Martin Eden

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Martin Eden

Jack London, prestigious author of Martin Eden writes his opinions into

his work. Aspects of different societies are prevalent throughout his

work and the class struggle between different classes of characters is

apparent in his writing. Although not an autobiography much of his

writing can appear to include his personal views on life. Martin Eden,

the protagonist created by London begins as a petty seaman works his

his way to the upper class of society. Through self-determination and

self-education he is able to become a member of the bourgeois. Writers

with styles similar to London in that they all write in the same style

in that shows the struggle of the poor and their climb to the upper

class only to see that it reveals a faux ideal. Alice Hoffman author of

Here On Earth appears to hold many of the same beliefs as Martin which

are seen throughout her novel.

Martin Eden was forced to make his own living. Eden was never

given anything and had to work to gain everything he wanted.

Everyday struggles included finding the simple necessities of

food and shelter. As a poor sailor, Eden looked around and saw

the ideals of the bourgeois. Through the eyes of Eden the

Bourgeois were the educated, wealthy, and were what Martin

desired to become. He dreams of becoming educated and belonging

to the upper class; ultimately he finds one small connection

that opens up a new world to the once struggling seaman.

Although later disproved, his first impressions of this class

were seen from an outsider^s view as perfect. ^Here was

intellectual life, he thought, and here was beauty, warm and

wonderful as he had never dreamed it could be.^ (p. 40) Martin

comes into contact with a family that introduces him to this

new world. The Morse family was all Martin dreamed of, he

viewed them, as them part of a perfect society and Ruth was the

focal point of it.! Ruth was heavenly like a flower; her

culture and sophistication stimulated him.

Introduction to this new class surprised Martin. The library, a

new idea to him, becomes his new haven. Although he lacked both

the time and money necessary for a traditional education

between sailing he began his way to self-education. In the

beginning Martin was separated from Ruth because of their class

difference, but as this yearning for education developed he and

Ruth become involved. ^He wasn^t of their tribe, and he

couldn^t talk their lingo was the way he put it to himself. He

couldn^t fake being their kind.^ (p. 51) Although he wasn^t

born any with any of these ^privileges^ he made it his business

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