"... the naturalistic tradition that glued these authors and their works together was the concept of the struggle between fiercely deterministic forces in the world and the individual's desire to exert freedom in the world. In other words, a reflection on Jean-Jacques Rousseau's quote, 'Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains,' is what Donald Prizer is striving for. He states, 'The naturalistic novelist is willing to concede that there are fundamental limitations to man's freedom, but he is unwilling to concede that man is thereby stripped of all value.' Based on this, Prizer came up with three recurring themes in naturalistic writing: 1) the tragic waste of human potential due to vile circumstances, 2) order (or the lack of), and 3) the individual's struggle to understand the forces affecting one's life."

Buck explain how "THE GAME" was played in Aven (downtown Dothan in 1890)

On page 53 and 54 of DEVIL MAKE A THIRD Buck explained to his Mama how "THE GAME" was played in Aven (downtown Dothan in 1890): "See here, the man that does the furnishin' makes mor'n the farmer. You know that [the Bakers owned a big general store between Headland and Tumbleton] . Rent him his land, sell him his tools, seeds, guano, anything he wants. He'll owe you and he won't like you. He'll cuss you, but you'll have to take it. He may kick you, but take it. Then, by God, if he makes a crop, take it."

His mother closed her eyes and Buck could see her face stiffen.

She tried to rock, but it wasn't a rocking chair. "That ain't our way," she said, shortly.

Buck laughed, bitterly, and it was ugly even to his ears.

"Them that furnishes live a long time," he said. "The land don't break them."

page 123 of DEVIL MAKE A THIRD

"Buck would try to convince himself that the storekeeper-furnisher took a chance and that big profits ought to come from big risks; then the thought would come to make him sweat, that whichever way the farmer moved, the storeman had him going and coming." http://privatepropertynotrespass.blogspot.com/