BY: YANNI KEVAS

THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES

OF JACK LONDON

THESIS STATEMENT

Jack London’s life was contradictory. At points

in his life, he wrote best-selling novels using

various philosophies as well as amazing short

stories, but during these times, he was also an

alcoholic, oyster pirate, hobo, gold miner, and a

lot more. His life was a mystery, that we will

never fully solve.

WHITE FANG

White Fang, half-dog and half wolf, is destroyed by

the cruel treatment of humans. He is hostile

towards those that approach him. White Fang is at

the top of the food chain, for he is the “Blessed

Wolf”, and all that oppose him would never see the

next day, but there is one thing that could save

White Fang- human love. White Fang is slowly saved

by this love. Eventually, White Fang becomes a

creature of loyalty, obedience, and affection.

FAMILY BACKGROUND AND EARLY LIFE

Jack London had an awkward family. He was

constantly moving, and his parents were a total

mess. London’s early life was hectic. He was

deserted by his father and then raised by his

mother, who eventually gave him up to an ex-slave.

The ex-slave’s name was Virginia Prentiss, and she

raised London through infancy. Jack London

eventually went on to complete grade school in

Oakland.(newworldencyclopedia.org)

MARRIAGE

“…married Bess Maddern on April 7, 1900, the same day

The Son of the Wolf was published.” They were friends,

and Jack London even said that he didn’t love her. He

thought marrying someone he didn’t actually love would

create a “successful marriage”. In 1904, London

divorced Bess, and married Charmian Kittredge. London

called her “mate woman”, and they went on numerous

trips together. They attempted to have children, but one

died, and the other was a miscarriage.

(newworldencyclopedia.org)

RACIAL VIEWS

Jack London was a racist. He was concerned about Asian immigration, and wrote an essay called “The Yellow Peril”. It criticizes Asians. Although Jack London disliked Asians, he admired Japanese customs and capabilities. London portrayed Mexican and Hawaiian characters, as well as Asian characters, in his short stories. In 1910, there was a huge fight, and one of the competitors was black and the other white. Jack London said that he routed for Jeffries, who was the white man, but he praised Johnson highly. Jack London’s racial views are not evident in his novels, but are common in his short stories.(wikipedia.org)

DARWINISM

“…designates a distinctive form of evolutionary

explanation for the history and diversity of life

on Earth…”

Darwinism is a type of evolution that is evident

in The Call of the Wild and White Fang.

(plato.stanford.edu)

SOCIALISM

“…any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.” There is no private property. “…the means of production are owned and controlled by the state.” Socialism is morally corrupting, and is not very evident in Jack London’s writing. London’s most popular piece of Socialist writing is The Iron Heel. It is about a socialist movement in the United States, which would lead to an alternate future.(socialistviewpoint.org)

REALISM/NATURALISM

Realism and Naturalism are very closely related. They

both “render reality closely”, which is like verisimilitude.

In Realism and Naturalism, character is more important

than the plot. Both ideas are “in explicable relation to

nature, to each other, to their social class, and to their own

past.” The working class is also commonly used in these

types of novels. Lastly, they both involve plausible events,

and diction is natural vernacular, which basically means

that the word choice and dialogue reflects the setting of

the story.

(wsu.edu)

OCCUPATIONS

London was in the working class, and his various

jobs were very labor intensive. He was an oyster

pirate on the San Francisco Bay. Jack London

was also on a fish patrol to catch poachers. He

sailed the Pacific on a sealing ship as well. At

one point in his life, Jack was also a hobo. His

most famous job, other than being an author,

was in the Yukon where he mined for gold.

(london.sonoma.edu)

GOLD RUSH

Jack London joined the gold rush because he was desperate, and he actually had to borrow money from his step sister to get to the Klondike. When Jack London got to the Klondike, he was first tested by “a pair of rapids at Miles Canyon and Whitehorse”. London successfully navigated the rapids, and helped others cross for money. Later during his trip, Jack was stuck at a cabin all winter, 75 miles away from his destination. They later found gold on the Stewart River. London said, “It was in the Klondike I found myself. There, nobody talks. Everybody thinks. You get your true perspective. I got mine.” I think this quote really resembles London’s writing style, which is short, simple, and direct yet very powerful. The Gold Rush and London’s northern experience influenced many of Jack London’s novels and short stories, such as The Call of the Wild and White Fang.(literarytraveler.com)

KARL MARX

Marx’s essays influenced Jack London the

most. His theories led London to advocate

socialism. London’s longing for a socialist

revolution is evident in The Iron Heel.

(london.sonoma.edu)

ERNST HAECKEL

Ernst has influenced London’s scientific

knowledge. His theory states that the

development of animal origin recapitulates the

evolutionary history of its species. This theory

also pertains to humans. Ernst also influenced

London’s racialism. Ernst created “Monism” as

well, which is the study of the world.

(london.sonoma.edu)

DAVID STARR JORDAN

London and Jordan first met in Oakland where

Jack attended David’s lectures about evolution.

David was a major supporter of Social

Darwinism, as well as a supporter of the

eugenics movement. London also supported

the eugenics movement and it was Jordan who

most likely introduced it to him.

(london.sonoma.edu)

JOHN TYNDALL

John was a supporter of Charles Darwin’s

theories. He “was a man of ordinary means

who rose above his surroundings.” Tyndall

had a “dynamic personality” and was a role

model to Jack London.

(london.sonoma.edu)

HERBERT SPENCER

Spencer created the phrase “survival of the fittest”,

which is a reoccurring theme in The Call of the

Wild, White Fang, and other books that involve the

wild. “Spencer adapted the theory of evolution into

a social system in which those individuals, species,

or races with the best acquired characteristics

would survive.” Herbert’s writings were responsible

for the rise of the Social Darwinism.

(london.sonoma.edu)

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE

Friedrich was a German philosopher that

developed the “superman” theory. “The

“superman” was perfect in both mind and

body.” The theory is incorporated in Martin

Eden and The Sea Wolf. At the end of The Call

of the Wild, Buck is a “superdog”, and White

Fang is a “superwolf” in the middle of the

story.

(london.sonoma.edu)

1876-1916

“…a time of major change…”Industrialization and urbanization were dominant, and there was also segregation and racial differences. “…workers movements responded to unhealthy conditions, long hours, and low pay. Women sought the right to vote.” Reformers attacked a variety of concerns, and socialism developed. “…literature, art, and architecture flourished. The public became better educated, and a middle-class emerged.”(london.sonoma.edu)

DEATH

Jack London’s death is controversial. “…older

sources describe it as a suicide, some still

do…”, but it is most likely a rumor. Uremia

could also have been the cause. “He was in

extreme pain and taking morphine.” “…a

morphine overdose, accidental or deliberate,

may have contributed.”

(readeasily.com)

JACK LONDON’S WRITING STYLE

Jack London’s novels are short, simple, and direct. I found an example in White Fang, and it says “White Fang was very wise.” Simple sentences are used commonly in London’s writing. Jack’s naturalistic writing style also focuses on character development. White Fang develops into a regular dog, while Buck becomes a vicious beast. Plot is important, but not as vital as the characters. Setting is significant in Jack London’s writing as well. The setting in White Fang and The Call of the Wild is the Klondike. Jack London describes the setting using his own personal experiences. Verisimilitude is used a lot in London’s writings too.

CONCLUSION

Jack London’s life was really interesting. As a

young boy, he grew up having to deal with

crazy parents and lots of moving. When he

grew up, he dealt with many jobs, including

gold mining in the Klondike. Jack London

believed in many philosophies, and was

influenced by many people. Lastly, Jack London

was an amazing author, and that is why is

books are still popular today.

WORK CITED

Tennant, Roy and Stasz, Clarice The Jack London Online Collection Sonoma State University Library 3 July 2009 Web 17 May 2011 http://london.sonoma.edu/

“London, Jack” newworldencyclopedia.org 4 August 2007 Web 17 May 2011 http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Jack_London

“Jack London” wikipedia.org 23 May 2011 Web 17 May 2011 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_London

“Darwinism” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Stanford University 19 January 2010 Web 17 May 2011 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/darwinism/

Haigh, Ken “The Spell of the Yukon: Jack London and the Klondike Gold Rush” Literary Traveler Web 17 May 2011 http://literarytraveler.com/literary_articles/jack_london_yukon.aspx