Question

A man said to the universe: "Sir, I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "the fact has not created in me a sense of obligation." – "A Man Said to the Universe," Stephen Crane

How does irony reveal naturalist themes here?

A) It emphasizes that the universe is aware of humankind yet still does not care.

B) It reveals that humankind is self-centered enough to think that the universe should care.

C) It suggests that humans tend to see things as they wish they were, not as things are.

D) It shows humanity's helplessness against external forces.

Answer 1

Stephen Crane's quote illustrates naturalistic themes by underscoring humanity's trivial presence and inability to influence the indifferent universe, aligning with naturalist literature that portrays humans as subject to external forces.

Step-by-step explanation:

The irony in Stephen Crane's statement "A man said to the universe: 'Sir, I exist!' 'However,' replied the universe, 'the fact has not created in me a sense of obligation.'" reveals naturalist themes by highlighting humanity's insignificance in the grand scheme of nature.

This notion fits best with option D) It shows humanity's helplessness against external forces. In naturalistic literature, individuals are often depicted as being at the mercy of the universe and external realities that are beyond their control, a theme that Crane emphasizes through this conversational interchange between a man and the indifferent universe.