| In his bestselling nonfiction book about the horror genre, Danse Macabre, author Stephen King lists among his idols "the great naturalist writer Frank Norris" (336). While King primarily writes horror fiction, he has often noted his indebtedness to early American literary naturalists. As these naturalist writers have been such an influence in King's life and writing, it seems logical to explore whether King himself, in addition to being a horror writer, can also be considered a literary naturalist. By looking at ideas of both early and contemporary American literary naturalism, I explore how a variety of King's works utilize the most central tenets of naturalism, including realism, determinism (biological, environmental, and technological) and the seeming paradox of free will within determined environments. I also look at how King's horror can be compatible with, and even expands on, the definition of traditional literary naturalism. |
