Kings Gothic Naturalism Essay -- Literary Analysis

Naturalist writers of the early 20th century convey the thought that persons are fated to whatever station in life their biological heredity and social environment prepare them for. Those who profess to be proponents of the naturalist lieu see literature as a means to understand the nature of man. Since the naturalist found in scientific discovery only a ratification of humankinds helplessness in the face of indifferent and inscrutable forces, their writings usually generate an uninspiring idea of humanitys frailty (Strengell 11-12). While the deterministic worldview is logical, it is difficult for many to resonate with powerless and doomed characters. Thus, the only way for the naturalistic frame of mind to reach a wider hearing is to present it in a different and less monotonous way. One of the signature traits of Naturalism seems to be the ease with which it combines in hybrids with other forms (Crow 123). Master of Horror Stephen king illustrates this concept in his novel, The Shining (1977), by intertwining the deterministic elements of Naturalism with Gothic and Horror. Combining these genres may seem to be a marriage of complete opposites, alone what lies dormant on its own thrives in the pairing. Unlike most naturalist writers, business leader presents a characters strength along with his or her faults. Although their deterministic traits imply that failure is imminent, the Gothic elements provide the backdrop for developing sympathy and even understanding for a characters actions. By using these techniques, King transforms a genre that has been mainly sought after for entertainment into insightful literature.In The Shining, King explores the triumphs and failures of naturalism, as he illustrates the mor... ... effective method of understanding the deterministic forces that drives action.Works CitedCrow, Charles L. Jack Londons The Sea Wolfe as Gothic Romance. Gothick Origins and Innovations. By Allan Lloyd. Smith and Victor Sage. Am sterdam Rodopi, 1994. 123-31. Print. King, Stephen. The Shining. Ed. William G. Thompson. New York Pocket, 2001. Print. Magistrale, Tony. The Truth Comes Out The Scrapbook Chapter. Discovering Stephen Kings The Shining Essays on the Bestselling smart by Americas Premier Horror Writer. 2nd ed. Tuscaloosa Borgo, 2008. 39-46. Print. Norris, Frank, and Donald Pizer. McTeague A Story of San Francisco Authoritative Text, Contexts, Criticism. 2nd ed. New York W.W. Norton, 1997. Print.Strengell, Heidi. Dissecting Stephen King From the Gothic to Literary Naturalism. Madison University of Wisconsin, 2006. Print.