John Steinbeck (1902-1968) was an award-winning American author who published novels, short stories, screenplays, and travel stories. Steinbeck's highly detailed and in-depth writing style contributed to him producing emotionally moving literary works. Focusing on the cruelty and desperation of the world, Steinbeck can be credited as a nature writer as he exemplified these ideas in many of his works. Growing up in a fertile valley, Steinbeck “developed a deep appreciation for the environment” (Shillinglaw); fueling his desire to accurately portray the struggles of everyday life. Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck uses naturalistic literary philosophy to examine how heredity, environment, and circumstance influence the lives of human beings. John Steinbeck often depicted the harsh realities of everyday life that shape character; this classifies his writings (material deleted/rearranged here) as naturalistic. Beginning in Europe in the late nineteenth century, naturalism attempted to “represent life precisely” (Walcutt 43). Furthermore, “[naturalism] attempts to apply scientific principles of objectivity and detachment to the study of human beings” (Campbell). While similar to realism, naturalism expands on realism in that the author of a naturalistic work will attempt to convey a thought or idea. Nature literature often depicts violence, feelings of hopelessness, a controlling force, and characters of low socioeconomic status. Two French authors, Emile Zola and Gustave Flaubert, “believed that the author should completely erase himself from his material and simply report without feeling or moralizing” (Walcutt 43). They became the driving force behind naturalism, writing about the ugly side of life on topics such as ... middle of paper ... spawned relatively few imitators” and “enhances its isolated position while highlighting the fact that the novel contains characters who differ little from the more negative Mexican stereotypes” (Tortilla Flat: Critical Review and Critical Reception). Thomas Fensch, in an introduction to the novel, noted that readers of Tortilla Flat “did not fully appreciate the twisted logic and morality [of the paisanos]. They were judged by many of the bums. . . and that point Steinbeck” (Fensch x). Through his novel Tortilla Flat, Steinbeck conveys naturalistic philosophy. Nature writers often attempt to describe the uncontrollable forces that govern an individual's life and to provide the reader with a scientific approach to explaining human behavior. Tortilla Flat will remain a classic of English literature written by one of the most important authors of the 20th century.