Survival

Definition

Survival refers to the ability of individuals or species to continue to exist in challenging environments or conditions. In this context, it connects to the struggle against natural forces and societal constraints that influence characters and narratives, often highlighting the primal instincts and resilience needed to overcome adversity.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Survival often reflects not just physical endurance but also psychological resilience in the face of hardship.
2. Characters portrayed in naturalistic literature frequently experience struggles that test their instincts for survival, revealing deeper truths about human nature.
3. Survival can manifest in various forms, including social survival, where individuals navigate relationships and societal expectations to maintain their identity.
4. Naturalism emphasizes the role of environment and heredity in shaping individuals’ chances of survival, making it a key theme in literature that examines realism.
5. The concept of survival can challenge traditional moral values, leading characters to make difficult choices that may conflict with societal norms.

Review Questions

• How does the theme of survival manifest in the characters' experiences within naturalistic literature?
  • In naturalistic literature, characters often find themselves in dire circumstances where their instincts for survival are put to the test. This struggle not only highlights their physical endurance but also reveals their psychological depth as they confront external forces and internal conflicts. By examining how these characters respond to their environments, readers gain insights into the fundamental aspects of human nature and resilience.
• Discuss the relationship between environmental factors and survival as presented in naturalistic works.
  • Naturalistic works typically illustrate how environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status or geographical location, significantly impact an individual's chances of survival. Authors often depict characters whose fates are intertwined with their surroundings, emphasizing that their struggles are not solely a result of personal choice but rather influenced by external forces beyond their control. This interplay highlights the deterministic view prevalent in naturalism, suggesting that survival is heavily reliant on one's circumstances.
• Evaluate how the concept of survival challenges societal norms in naturalistic narratives and its implications for understanding human behavior.
  • The concept of survival in naturalistic narratives often leads characters to confront and challenge societal norms. When faced with extreme situations, individuals may prioritize their instinctual drive to survive over established moral codes, leading to actions that can seem morally ambiguous. This exploration pushes readers to reconsider what it means to be human and how far one might go when fighting for existence. Through this lens, naturalism not only reflects on individual struggles but also critiques broader societal values, revealing the complexities of human behavior in desperate circumstances.

Related terms

Natural Selection: The process through which traits that enhance survival and reproduction become more common in a population over time.

Adaptation: The process by which organisms adjust to their environments to improve their chances of survival.

Existentialism: A philosophical movement emphasizing individual existence, freedom, and choice, often exploring themes of meaning and survival in an indifferent universe.