Naturalism in "Doll's House" by Lucas Hnath and "John" by Annie Baker

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Naturalism in Performing Arts
Naturalism in theatre is a movement, which presents characters and situations in their natural or original state without the use of artistic conventions. In other words, naturalism uses characters as they appear in their normal environment without coloring them or using paints to influence their role in theatre. In this regard, naturalism, therefore, depicts the reality in a documentary and objective way and exposing them in the most beautiful obscure and vulgar aspects in which they occur. Because it evolved from realism, naturalism borrows some concepts of realism. It believes that the fate of characters in the play is predetermined. This means that what happens in the characters is a reflection of what is expected to happen without any artificial influence. For example, if a character is born out of poverty, then it is expected that they die in poverty. Naturalism helps the reader to view the issues from a different point of focus and judge accordingly, basing on how the characters in the play are brought out. Doll’s part 2 by Lucas Hnath and John by Annie Baker demonstrates naturalism from different viewpoints and mostly on the way characters, themes and the events unveil in the two plays as discussed in this essay.
Lucas Hnath presents the characters in the “Doll’s house” without the use of art to bring out the reality and to enhance the plot of his play. He presents to the reader a character named Norah, who is married to Torvald and who had already divorced her husband, something which leaves the audience in surprise. After the divorce, Norah becomes a prolific author and enlightens other women to come out of the chains of domestic bondage. Because of the loneliness, she goes through, Norah meets with other men on the streets and fall into sexual immorality with them despite having divorced with her husband, something which the society considers to be immoral. She even signs publishing contracts with other men without her husband’s consent. According to the morals of the society, such acts could lead one into jail.
Moreover, a powerful judge whose wife has left him to come through the books written by Norah and threatens to report the issue. Norah reunites with Anne Marie, but when Anne realizes the motive of the reunion, she leaves her. Lucas Hnath naturalism is seen in his ability to make the readers sympathize with his characters because of the various roles the characters have in the play and how reality hits them in their normal life. The events happening to them are beyond their control, and they are set to go through all what happens in their life. Henderson tells Norah that he should have left her earlier before Norah left him. Henderson is unhappy with Norah and talks some bad segments to show his anger for her. He says that Norah has changed since they last met.
The social environment in which the characters are subjected in is a good portrayal of naturalism and shapes the character's outward appearance. In light of this aspect of naturalism, Houdyshell has improved with time. She has made Ann Marie sour look more delicious. Julie white is another unique character presented in the play...