"Maggie: A Girl of the Streets"

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews the novel "Maggie: A Girl of the Streets", in light of its reflection on the differences between social classes. Crane unwaveringly focuses on the determinism of social and economic forces on the lives of individuals. The paper looks at Crane's intentions, in writing the piece. As a literary naturalist, Crane was interested in depicting the social ills of his time, showing that despite an individual's best efforts, the forces of the society will overcome her and determine her fate.

From the Paper:

"Crane was also showing the neglect and child abuse the Johnson children were experiencing. For example, Maggie's Mother (Mary) beats the children at will and does not come to terms with her abuse neither does Crane give her reason to redeem herself. She is a product of the times - a villain to the children. Mary's villainy is not without justification or explanation. There is no questioning that Mary incarnates villainy in this novel. But that can only be because villainy exists to be personified, as a set of forces larger and more powerful than any one person."

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