Martin Eden

biography of the author

Jack London (born John Griffith Cheney, January 12, 1876) was an American novelist, journalist and social activist. A pioneer of commercial fiction and American magazines, he was one of the first American authors to become an international celebrity and earn a large fortune from writing. He was also an innovator in the genre that would later become known as science fiction. He was a very prolific writer and achieved worldwide literary success prior to his death on November 22, 1916. The Londons were a working-class family. Jack worked in a cannery, shoveled coal, pirated ousters, and worked abroad a sealing ship. The adventures, he experienced, inspired some of his first stories. In 1893, at the encouragement of his mother. he entered a writing contest, told one of the stories, and won first prize. He began to write daily and sold some of his short stories to publications like "Overland Monthly" in 1899. Jack London died at the age of 40 on November 22, 1916 at his home in California. The official cause of death was noted as kidney disease.

Eden- a former sailor from a working- class background

Ruth Morse- the young, bourgeois university student who captivates Eden while tutoring him in English

Lizzie Connolly- a cannery worker rejected by Eden

Joe Dawson- Eden's boss at the laundry

At the beginning of the 20th century, Martin Eden struggles to achieve a place among the literary elite. His main motivation is his love for Ruth Morse. Eden promises her that success will come in 2 years, but Ruth loses her patience and rejects him in a letter. He has a friend Russ Brissenden , also a writer. Soon Martin achieves success as a writer and his perseverance in learning allows him to communicate with those people who study at the university. He becomes an educated person. One day he meets his old friend, a simple factory girl Lizzie who is ready to be with him not even knowing about his fame and money. But Martin Eden thinks she deserves more. Ruth also returns to him, however he does not want because she loves his fame but not him. He decides to go to islands, build a house there and live away from society which he hates. Sailing there, he realizes that his life becomes a burden for him and finds the solution to this problem: he jumps overboard from the ship and tries to drown himself.

This story presents a tale which highlights the selfish features in human nature and the social environment that influences them. Martin Eden is a lower-class person. The story depicts a man (Martin Eden) in conflict with nature of society and himself. Jack London's novel contrasts the power of the individual with the impersonal society of slaves who struggle to get fame and money.

This novel very clearly explained to me the whole point of "Naturalism". It causes interest and oppressive feelings at the same time. Martin refuses the social ideas and ideals to become an individuality. He does not want the life in which the most important things are money. The book leaves a lot of room for reflection: could he have survived or in the end he would still not have been able to live in such a society. I liked this story and especially the point of view of Martin Eden.