Naturalism is a literary movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily in the United States and France. The genre is an extension of realism but with a more deterministic worldview. Naturalism posits that individuals are shaped and controlled by external forces such as heredity, environment, and social conditions. Characters are often depicted as victims of these forces, and their destinies are predetermined. For example, in “South of the Slot,” the characters inhabit roles ascribed to them based on their income, education, and other social factors. Naturalist works often explore the darker aspects of human existence, portraying characters caught in circumstances beyond their control. Prominent writers of the genre include the French author Émile Zola and the American writer Stephen Crane.

Naturalist literature frequently focuses on the lives of the lower classes, depicting the struggles of everyday people. Writers explore the challenges faced by characters in poverty or working-class situations. This is exemplified in “South of the Slot,” as most of the story’s action takes place within the working-class community of San Francisco. Freddie’s transformation into Bill is influenced by the environment and circumstances he encounters in the working-class district.