Maggie: A girl of the Streets as an Exemplar of Literary Naturalism Author: Stephen Crane Title: Maggie: A girl of the Streets

Stephen Crane's interpretations of life are spawned from his own opinions of the world. These opinions correspond with naturalistic train of thought. He makes use of an observation technique to show the natural law of the universe: One can either accept the laws determining social order or become their victim. In the Novella Maggie: A girl of the Streets, Maggie is used as a medium to paint the picture of the devastating consequences that befall …

…He sought to tell the story of a girl of promise who succumbs to the brutal circumstances of her life in the slums of lower Manhattan. Stephen Crane wrote with a purpose and accomplished the goal of the novella: illustrating what happens when one, such as Maggie, defies the conformist ways of her social class and rebels. Crane's earthy subject matter and his objective, scientific style, devoid of moralizing, earmark Maggie as a naturalist work.