Comparing Naturalism In Mcteague And The Virginian

During the late nineteenth century there were two influential literary genres of note: realism and naturalism. In an attempt to break away from traditional romanticism, realists wished to recreate the world truthfully. They strove to represent things exactly as they were without added embellishment or influence. The second genre, spurred on by the scientific study of evolution by Charles Darwin and Claude Barnard’s use of the scientific method, prompted an interest in human behavior. By stripping away the idealizations of previous cultural movements they could study the interactions between human motivations and society. Thus the genres of realism and naturalism were born, creating new forms of literature that accurately described the world as it
In the beginning of the novel McTeague has a comfortable life. It’s through a series of negative events that his material wealth and social status are reduced. McTeague’s ignorance and lack of will prompts him to violent acts, and thus leads him onto a path of violence and self-destruction. It’s through these acts, forced upon him by societal influences, that causes him to de-evolve into animalistic behavior. He is not violent until circumstances prod him to react in such a way. On the other hand, in The Virginian, Wister creates a man who embodies a noble ability to use violent force for the good of the many. He is attractively described as being not only a verbal master of men but also uses physical force when he has to. He is intelligent and resourceful and is not prodded into violence. He makes the conscious decision to do so only if it provides the best possible outcome. For example, the Virginian passes up several opportunities to act violently against Trampas for his uncouth behavior. It is not until Trampas turns to cattle theft that the Virginian makes the decision, legally of course, to murder him by