Essay Comparing Jewett And Jack London

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Sarah Orne Jewett and Jack London were both influential writers who came to light during the Realism and Naturalism movements in literature. While they shared a deep commitment to highlighting the true realities of life, their views of nature differed significantly. Jewett elected to explore the fragility and kindness of nature, whereas, London worked to demonstrate the fierceness and destruction that nature brings upon man. There are many reasons that explain the inspiration behind Jewett and London’s unique writing styles. Influences like life experiences, regional alignment, and gender roles are all perspectives that can be seen through the lenses of their characters. Though many similarities are found in the writings of Jewett and London …show more content…

In one of his more widely known works, To Build a Fire, London writes “The feeling grew stronger until it became very painful, but the man welcomed the pain. The bare fingers were quickly numb again. Next, he brought out his pack of matches. In his effort to separate one match from the others, the whole pack fell in the snow. He tried to pick it out of the snow, but failed. The dead fingers could neither touch nor hold” (London 11). In other words, the man in the story has become engaged in such an intense battle with nature and the cold, that his hands have become permanently frozen. So much so, that the man has been overcome with severe pain and total numbness. Themes like these, of pain and struggle, were often found in Jack London’s stories, very much unlike those found in the works of Sarah Orne Jewett. As a female writer in the late 1800’s, Jewett faced a multitude of societal expectations and challenges. These standards and difficulties often show through in her many stories, as they shape her perspective on Realism and Naturalism. Jewett’s outlook on nature highlights its nurturing and healing qualities, offering comfort and security to her female …show more content…

This place offers the girl a place of tranquility and peacefulness, where she feels fulfilled and safe. For many of Jewett’s works, nature serves as a sanctuary for her characters, where they find calmness and freedom from the overwhelming constraints of society. Jack London’s perspective on nature was influenced mostly by his experiences as a young man who was challenged with navigating the dangerous landscapes of the American West. Having grown up in poverty in California, London was forced to find work of all kinds on the frontier. His portrayal of nature has the tendency to be more aggressive and unforgiving, rather than peaceful and calming. London's male protagonists and antagonists repeatedly confront nature as a hostile force, testing their courage and strength in times of danger. For instance, in The Call of the Wild, London writes “It marked his adaptability, his capacity to adjust himself to changing conditions, the lack of which would have meant swift and terrible death. It marked, further, the decay or going to pieces of his moral nature, a vain thing and a handicap in the ruthless struggle for existence” (London

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