Martin Eden

Martin Eden is an autobiographical novel in which London tells of his struggle to overcome his lack of knowledge and to turn himself from a plain sailor into an educated person. But this is a social novel as well. It shows the fate of a young man who comes from the working class and becomes a famous writer in bour­geois society.

The main characters of the novel are Martin Eden, Ruth Morse and her family. Martin saves in a hand-to-hand fight with a group of hooligans a young man named Arthur Morse. Arthur introduces Martin to his family, and he falls in love with his sister Ruth. Martin thinks the Morses to be the realm of spiritual beauty and intellectual life, and he considers Ruth to personify all these qualities.

It becomes Martin's desire to be her intellectual equal and to join the society she belongs to. He decides to educate himself to be worthy of Ruth. Martin Eden studies grammar, reads a lot of books. His swift development surprises and interests Ruth. She realizes that she is in love with Martin, but her parents have other plans for her. When Martin runs out of money he sets out as a

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Martin feels awfully tired. He refuses to write another word. Martin thinks there is no cure for him except to escape from this world and sail on a liner to the South Seas. Before his departure he feels that it is useless. The only thing he wants is rest, and finally he understands that only death will give him peace, and he commits suicide, he drawns himself. Having developed the best traditions of the American criti­cal realism of Mark Twain, O. Henry and others, Jack London became one of the most significant classics of world literature. His talented, realistic works were highly appreciated by many progressive-minded people all over the world, and they inspired his contemporaries and many writers who came after him.

Speak about Jack London's childhood. When was his first story written? Why did Jack London go to the Klondike? How did his stay in the Klondike influence on his writings? Name Jack London's northern stories.

common sailor in a ship bound for the South Seas. While on board, a great idea comes to his head — to become a writer. That is a career that will help him to win Ruth.

On his return to Oakland, Martin devotes every minute of his time to writing and studying. He works from early morning till dark and sends the manuscripts to various magazines. His first stories are returned by the publishers, but he keeps on sending them.

In the meanwhile Martin and Ruth are engaged to be married. It is a great blow to Ruth's parents because Eden is a rough sailor. Wishing to have encouragement in his work, Martin shows some of his stories to Ruth. But she has little faith in his power as a writer. Ruth persuades him to give up writing and accept a job at her father's office.

But Martin continues sending his stories to various magazines.
His visits to the Morses convince him that he has been under the
wrong impression about the high society. He begins to under­
stand that Ruth also shares its narrowness. Under the pressure of
her parents Ruth breaks off the engagement. She agrees that
they are not made for each other. It is a terrible blow to Martin,
and he stops writing. But he continues to send his old rejected
stories to the printing houses. And soon they are accepted, one
after another. •»

Through unbearable hardships Martin manages to realize his dream. He becomes a famous writer. His stories and novels are now in great demand. Eden becomes rich and popular, but he is not happy. When he gets into "high society" he understands how shallow and hypocritical these people are. He can't understand that those who despised him before his books become popular, now invite him to dinner.

The Morses, hearing of Martin's brilliant career, are not against his union with Ruth. She even visits Martin to reconcile with him. "She is aware of her humiliation but she does not care. However all her efforts are in vain. The charm of love is gone. There is nothing in common between the youth, who was madly in love with Ruth, and the famous writer, tired, exhausted and indifferent. He cannot bring himself to feel sympathy for Ruth and is as unresponsive as a stone."

Vocabulary

aware [s'wes] а знающий

to be aware сознавать, отдавать себе отчет charm [tja:m] n очарование convince [kan'vms] v убеждать despise [dis'paiz] v презирать encouragement [т'клпс&тэпГ] п под­держка engagement [m'geictjmsnt] n помолвка exhausted [ig'zo:stid] а измученный humiliation [hju^mili'eijgn] n унижение hypocritical Lhipa'kntikal] а лицемерный inspire [m'spara] v вдохновлять lack [laek] n нехватка narrowness [ пэегэипв] п ограниченность overcome ['эшэклт] v(overcame; over­come) преодолеть

Questions and Tasks

personify [p3:'sDnifai] v олицетворять

progressive-minded [pre'gresiVmamdid] а прогрессивно настроенный

realm [relm] n сфера

reconcile freksnsail] v помириться

rough [rAf] а грубый

run out [глп aut] v кончаться

shallow ['/эе1эи] а ограниченный; пустой

share Цеэ] v разделять

spiritual ['spmtjusl] о духовный

unbearable [лп'ЬеэгэЫ] а невыносимый

unresponsive ['Anns'ponsiv] а не реа­гирующий

vain [vein] о напрасный in vain напрасно

worthy ['\V3:6i] а достойный

6. What novel was written after his visit to London?

7. When was the prime of London's creative work?

8. What works were written in this period of time?

9. Characterise Jack London's literary activities.

10. When did he die?

11. What was the reason of his death?

12. Analyse the novel Martin Eden.

13. What are the main characters of the book?

14. Give a summary of the contents of Martin Eden.

15. Describe the character of Martin Eden.

16. Comment on Jack London's place in American and world literature.

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