Maggie: a Girl of the Streets

Maggie: a Girl of the Streets

1. Naturalism is a literary movement which consists in setting the characters of the novel into a world where they cannot escape from their sociological determinism. Maggie, the victim of the novella, is conditioned by forces outside her control. Moreover, the circumstances in which she is place can also dominate her behavior. Economic and social circumstances in particular disable her to fulfill her will. Social Darwinism is present in the novel: Crane applies the rules like in the jungle, only those who are strong survive. That is why Maggie does not survive at the end. Not enough strength leads her to fail against the evil world that surrounds her, because the world itself has deprived her of knowing what she should fight against. We can also see this naturalism manifesto in Jimmie’s description in chapter 4. Seeing rich people made him angry, as he was a very violent boy, but he had to work because his father died and there were no chances with him to become rich, although he pretended he was happy like that. Naturalist writers also essay to copy the language, actions and thoughts of real people. Crane does not want us to read an author, but the real people of the Bowery talking like they usually do.
Symbolism also plays an important role in the novel. Colors are used as a symbol. For example, yellow is used to refer to common people; it emphasizes the dullness of their life, the dirtiness and the low quality of life they have. In chapter 5 we can find a line that draws the environment with yellow: "She received a stool and a machine in a room where sat twenty girls of various shades of yellow discontent". And also in chapter 7: "An orchestra of yellow silk women and bald-headed men on a elevated stage near the center of a great green-hued hall..." In chapter 8 we can also find color symbolism: "The latter spent most of his time out at soak in pale-green snow storms, busy with a nickel-plated revolver, rescuing aged strangers from villains". Pale is a...

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