Argument: Naturalism is the application of principles of scientific determinism. Humans view the world as animals would, responding to environmental forces and internal stress and drives.  Claim: There are eight ways to determine if a piece of literature contains naturalism: objectivity, frankness, amoral attitude toward material, philosophy of determinism, bias toward pessimism in selection of details, bias in selection of characters, characters are subject to certain temptations, and complexity and American Determinism. Evidence: Smith gives no evidence to support his claims, however he does cite three books (Parrington's The Beginnings of Critical Realism in America: 1860-1920, Murfin and Roy's The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms, and Holman and Harmon's A Handbook to Literature). Evidence, however, can be shown throughout naturalists' novels. Steinbeck, a proven naturalist by critics, has these criteria shine through vividly throughout his literature. For example, one criterion given was the bias in selection of characters. "There are usually three types: (a) characters marked by strong physiques and small intellectual activity; (b) characters of excited neurotic temperament, at the mercy of moods, driven by forces they do not stop to analyze; (c) an occasional use of strong character whose will is broken" (1). In Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, Lenny (type A) is a strong, tall man with no brains. His friend, George, (type b) who has extreme mood swings between sympathetic and furious, must keep his Lenny from speaking because his stupidity might ruin their jobs. http://www.viterbo.edu/perspgs/faculty/GSmith/Naturalism.html

Argument: Although the subject of Steinbeck's novels change overtime, he maintains a view of certain fundamental values and attitudes such as naturalism and romanticism. Claim: Steinbeck's obsessiveness with science/biology as well as the relationship between man and his environment appear throughout his novels. However, he often strays from science and writes off an emotional bias by writing fondly of those that live natural lives and behave naturally. Evidence: In "Sea of Cortez", he states "There would seem to be only one commandment for living things: Survive!" (Sea of Cortez). A majority of this book is about a group of boys who focus on what is occurring during the present time and handle issues with their reactions instead of with 'teleological thinking' (2). In addition, he touches on the subject of the scientific viewpoint that everyone is fighting to stay alive and make it in this world. http://go.galegroup.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=LitRC&userGroupName=chandler_main&tabID=T001&searchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=1&contentSet=GALE%7CH1420074523&&docId=GALE|H1420074523&docType=GALE&role=LitRC

Argument: The fact that Steinbeck is a romantic naturalist appears vividly throughout his novels. Claims: His views affect literary devices such as diction, plot, and character development. Evidence: "The Darwinism of 'The Red Pony' is brought from conflict of animals to the conflict between men in 'Of Mice and Men'...As engaging to our own sense of romantic and sentiment as Lennie's and George's dream of a small ranch may be, the facts are that they do not have the power within the scheme of things to make this dream come true" (1). http://go.galegroup.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/ps/i.do?action=interpret&id=GALE%7CH1100000795&v=2.1&u=chandler_main&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w&authCount=1