Martin Eden

Author: Jack [USA]
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Of course, the representative work that most reflects both the positive and negative aspects of his creative thoughts is his novel Martin Eden, published in 1909. In this autobiographical novel, Jack London poured his heart into it, writing about his struggles to study and write under the disdain of the mediocre bourgeoisie. He also extensively elaborated on his social views, which were a mix of Marxist class consciousness, Spencer's Social Darwinism, and Nietzsche's "superman" theory. Martin Eden was a sailor on an ocean liner. By chance, he met the Rose family and fell deeply in love with the liberal arts student, seeing her as his ideal lover. To match himself with her, he devoted himself to studying, arming himself with cultural knowledge, especially various philosophical ideas. He believed his experiences would interest people, and his views urgently needed to be expressed, so he diligently studied and practiced writing. However, his attempts failed one after another, and his life deteriorated to the point of utter destitution. Despite often being starving and even pawning his coat, he persisted in reading and writing. Although his sister, landlady, and working-class friends liked and sympathized with him, they did not understand him. Meanwhile, the upper-class gentlemen and ladies mocked and taunted him at every turn, but he pressed forward, determined to stay on his own path. In terms of this spirit of hard struggle and self-reliance, it is positive.