The article deals with the means of constructing a naturalistic character, the model
for which was proposed by French writers: the Goncourt brothers and Émile Zola.
Naturalists draw their personage concept from the interpretation of its biological
nature. The focus of its depiction is shifted to the study of fundamental features of
human nature rather than “variables” of the historical forms of its manifestation. A
naturalistic character, being “a biological being” rather than “a set of social relations”,
is completely absorbed by the environment. The “social” core of a realistic personage
is based on the principles of typification, but the “biological” core of a naturalistic
character cannot be a generalized type because in it the individual prevails over the
typified. Images of Germinie Lacerteux and Thérèse Raquin from the Goncourts’ and
Zola’s same-name novels respectively are considered to be prototypes of naturalistic
characters. In Ukrainian literature, Ivan Franko interpreted and synthesized Western
European experience using realistic and naturalistic art to create his own concept of
“scientific realism”. The difference in Franko’s personage construction lies in the fact
that he does not confine himself to the observation and description of his heroes’
behavior but offers a plan for correcting their deficiencies.