Martin Eden, by John London

Introduction

Jack London, born in the last quarter of the nineteenth century to Flora Wellman, is among the many prolific writers from the United States of America who possess great artistic works ranging from great time novels ,short stories, plays just to mention but a few. He is fondly remembered for his great novel ‘Martin Eden’ published in 1909. In the novel he tries to express the challenges faced by young writers who try to exploit their talent and passion in an area where little opportunities present themselves. This novel has stood the test of time with its relevance evident to date. It is a favorite to many young upcoming writers thus the main aim for writing this paper is to focus on the autobiographical elements of Jack London in the novel ‘Martin Eden’.

'Elements of autobiography in ‘Martin Eden’ by Jack London’

The author in his great time novel ‘Martin Eden,’ is seen as an unschooled sailor with a great urge to be educated in a bid to fit well in a literary elite society. Through intensive self-studying, he struggles to rise higher than his natural conditions in an attempt to secure himself a coveted place among the affluent. According to the context, the protagonist does this due to his relationship with a girl named Ruth Morse (Fly High).

The author illustrates clearly that ‘Martin Eden’ is in an intimate relationship with the girl. However, though the two are in love, they come from very different social backgrounds. While the former comes from a bourgeois background, the latter hails from a working class background. It is therefore paramount for the two to establish a decent relationship. Their social backgrounds must at all costs be leveled; this was the main driving force inside the protagonist th...

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...e to perfect his writing skills hence achieve his desired goals. The presence of Ruth Morse who was his fiancée was not enough to stop him from attaining his desires. Talented and principled, Martin aims higher with one thing in his mind, clearly knowing that someday he wants to be influential in life and through his autobiography we see how he struggles to achieve his goals.

Works Cited

“Classic Literature”. About.com: Jack London Quotes, 28 Mar, 2011. Web, 28th Mar,

2011 from: http://classiclit.about.com/od/londonjack/a/aa_jlondonquote.htm

Fly High. Throwback Thursday: “The Jack London Online Collection”. 1 Apr, 2010. Web,

28 Mar, 2011 from: http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.com/2010/04/ throwback-thursday-martin-eden-by-jack.html

London, Jack. “Autobiographical Elements”: Martin Eden. Macmillan & Co,. Ltd,

London.1913 Print