本科毕业范文正文

本科毕业范文正文本科毕业范文正文 1 0I ntroducti on Jack London 1876 1916 is a very popularand prolific American novelist and short story writerin the first yearsof thetwentieth century Martin Eden a famousautobiographical novelwritten byJack London depicts alow class young man makinggreat suess to advancehim into the upper class while sufferingdeep loneliness For along time critics in the worlddiffered in their evaluation of Martin Eden Many readersand scholarsanalyze thebook fromdifferent perspectives Some tryto understand it inNietzscheen approach some findout Naturalistideas reflectedin it some seethe disillusionof Americandream in the work some analyzeit in the feministpoint ofview some pareMartin Edenwith TheGreat Gatsbyin theapproach of the plotstructures andnarrative discourse etc However most criticspay theirattention to the workitself orits backgroundinformation There arefew articlesthat analyzethe maincharacter Martin Eden s loneliness However we canfind thesevere influenceof his feeling of loneliness and the factorsthat contributeto his death throughanalyzing this young man s experiences First his familymembers can not understand him and theywant him to berealistic andrational to get ajob which is corresponding to his social status Second his fellowsof the working classcould not understandhim Brissenden the onlyone truefriend of Martin the spiritualguider of Martin mits suicidewhen Martingoes to his room Brissenden s suicidemakes Martinget boggeddown lonelinesstotally Finally he has been rejectedby the upper classsince theevery beginning Ruth his lover never understandsand supports him What isworse at thekey moment when Martin Eden needsher fortand encouragement she gives up andbetrays him And the publishers the representativeof thatsociety at firstrefuse his works again and again While they rushto flatter him whenMartin s worksbees popularwith thepublic Besides Ruth s parentsjust takehim as a means to waketheir daughterup Once hefinishes thisduty as they supposed they decideto getride ofhim atonce Although theyinvite Martin to theirhome after he is famouse they don tunderstand his works at all All thesefactors mentionedabove contributeto Martin s loneliness and finallylead to his death Through theseanalyses people willrealize theimportant rolethat family friends and society playon youngmen s emotion especially theloneliness Since Martin Eden is Jack London s semi autobiographical novel the studyof itcan helpus understandbetter not only theplexity andcontradiction ofthis giftedwriter but alsothe relationshipbetween materialsuess andself fulfillment At thenew circumstancesof oursocial development it isnecessary toremain onguard againstthe alienativeeffect ofexcessive individualismand superficialmaterial prosperity To keepman s innerpeace and integrity is the basictask of the constructionof themodern harmonioussociety 2 0I ntroductionof Jack Londonand MartinEden2 1A Brief IntroductionofJack London Jack London 1876 1916 is one of themost suessful writers inAmerica in the early20th Century Known asa greatnaturalistic writer he is also aprolificAmericannovelistandshortstorywriter The illegitimateson of an astrologerand aWelsh farmgirl he hada poverty stricken childhood brought upby his mother and her husband John London At17 Jack Londonshipped asan ableseaman toJapan and the BeringSea He was an oysterpirate a gold seeker in the firstKlondike rush a newspapercorrespondent duringthe Russo Japanese War andin1914a warcorrespondent inMexico The turningpoint of his lifewas athirty day imprisonmentthat wasso degradingit madehim decideto turnto educationand pursuea careerin writing His vigorousstories ofmen and animals againstthe environment and survivalagainst hardshipswere drawnmainly fromhis ownexperiences His yearsin theKlondike searchingfor goldleft theirmark in his bestshort stories among them The Callof theWild about atame dogthat eventuallyleads awolf pack is oneof the best animalstories everwritten It wonhim world wide fame His bestnovel The Sea Wolf was basedon hisexperiences atsea Martin Eden 1909 and BurningDaylight 1910 are partlyautobiographical London presentedhis socialistideas inmany of his books e g The Peopleof theAbyss 1903 and TheIron Heel 1907 And Jack London sworkembraced theconcepts ofunconfined individualismand Darwinismin itsexploration of the lawsof nature However his philosophywas farmore plex receiving influencefrom HerbertSpencer David StarrJordan Thomas HenryHuxley Ernst Haeckel and notablyFriedrich Nietzsche with whoseworks hefirst made acquaintance inSeptember of1904 He admiredNietzsche sofanatically that he transplantedsome of the Nietzscheanideas intohis laterworks of whichMartin Edenwasarepresentative and therefore worthyof aprofound study Beset in his lateryears by alcoholism andfinancial difficulties London diedat theage of40 as itwas foretoldby Martin Eden s death 2 2The StoryofMartinEdenMartin Eden isJack London s semi autobiographical novel which givesa veryvivid anddetailed portraitof thehero from animpoverished anduneducated sailor to asuessfulwriter who is inspired by the eleganceand knowledgeof the upper classgirl Ruth and thereafterkeeps toilinghimself inlearning andwriting and eventually getsalamation butmeanwhile loseshis hopein lifeand drownedhimself in the sea Martin Eden a youngsailor saves Arthur the sonofabarrister Mr Morse by chance In orderto thankMartin forhis help Arthur enthusiasticallyinvites Martintohis home The magnificentfurnishings andelegant andcivilized mannersin the Morses dazzleand amazeMartin a laborerfrom the lower class who neverexperiences suchkind of life And he falls in love with Ruth a college educated girl Arthur syoungand beautifulsister atfirst sight In theeyes of Martin Ruth isso pure and noble Bored with the tackyplayboys in her world Ruth alsolikes the young manwith energy and greatintellect With Ruth s encouragement more precisely with theenormous drivingforce of pureand noble love and being a member of thewealthy bourgeoisie Martin the superman determines toeducate himselfand studiesvery hard It justtakes hisfew monthsto finishthe lessonsthat otherpeople haveto finishin twoyears Like theauthor JakeLondon Martin studiesand writesas he has to work tosupport himselfwith justfour orfive hourssleep All whathe doesis justin orderto be among the upper class and matchwith Ruthone day Later while Ruthand Martin are engagedin private her parentsthink that Martin isa poorwretch withrudeness andbad mattersin the lower class so theystrongly opposetheir daughterto becloser with the pooryoungman Besides all the people inthe Morses living roomridicule Martin Gradually Martinfinds that the uppersociety is not so noble andcivilized as he imaginedinthepast In adebate intheir livingroom he criticizesdirectly those higher person which affrontstheir dignity and he is rejectedintheMorses home fromthat moment Although hecontinues writinginthe hard time selling hischerish stuffs getting breadinastore oncredit the articleshe writesare sentand refusedagain andagain Only RussBrissenden a leftistpoet tells thevalue ofhis work His fianc e Ruth who does not valueanything thatis not established and takesshim asa failurebecause magazineswill notpublish his writing and he has bee notoriousfor beinga socialistalthough thoseausations areuntrue returns to him aftera ruthless rejection beforehe achievesfame Then Martinfinds thatRuth isnot the angel as hethought buta short sighted and vulgar youngwoman inthe societyof bourgeois The spiritualpillar thatsupports him to fightcollapses so he has noenergy andpassion tocontinue writing but sendsthe refundeddrafts to thepublishers magazines andnewspapers Unexpectedly oneofhis workswas published Overnight hebecame a famous writer and all kinds ofinvitations followed bymoney andhonor esto him Now the upper classopen thedoor for him the noble people who used to scoffat himstart toingratiate him now theMorsesinitiatively askRuth tovisit Martin and wantto resumetheir engagementwhich theyused tooppose strongly However Martin who is nowon the peak ofhiscareer and the societyknows wellthe hypocrisyof the society Reputation money false friendshipandvulgarlove areno longerarouse hisenthusiasm topursue tohappy lifeby relyingon personalstruggle nor changehis attitudeof indifferenceto life He hatesthe bourgeoisphilistine and withBrissenden s suicideand his own realizationthat he has losttouch withhis own class he wants to live a isolatedhermit lifeinanisland But eventually he decidesto mitsuicide inthe SouthSeas andend hisyoung life He drownshimself asif he goes backhome asa sailor 3 0Al ienati onfrom theWorki ngCl assBorn inthe working class Martin Eden is familiarwith the people inthelowersociety He shouldrely onand roothimself in his own class like Antaeusrely on hismotherwhich is the originofhisenergyandlife Once separatewith them he willloose thesupport andfall intodeep loneliness even death 3 1Lonel iness OwingtoHi sFami ly Martin Edenisa younguneducated uncouth butworld wise sailorwho hasa bigand humbleorigin family Earning theirown livingsseparately the familymembers have no time to municate with each other What isworse they donot understandeach otherwell which contributesa lotto Martin Eden s loneliness Amonge Martin s families his eldersister Gertrude is the personloving himvery muchpared withothers Martin liveswith her and her family bypaying fora smalland crampedroom on hisbrother in law s demand Gertrude usedto be a younggirl withenergy but now with somany childrento take care ofandsomuch work to do she has no muchtimetoshow herlove toher dearbrother However she loves Martin in her way But undoubtedly there isstill along wayfor her to understandMartin Eden Martin readshis firstworktoGertrude beforehe showsit toothers It isclear that she isnot ableto understand what Martin wantsto express because of herlimitation andlack ofknowledge While He wanted to beaffectionate tothis sister who was good and who in herway he knew loved him But somehow she grewless herselfastheyears wentby and moreand morebaffling It wasthehardwork the many children and thenagging of her husband he decided that hadchanged her Jack London 1992 34 Discouraged by the rejectionof magazines Martin strugglesinthe dark without anyadvice orany encouragement Even his dear sister Gertrude isbeginning tolook askance At first she couldtolerate withsisterly fondness But then out ofsisterly solicitude she bees anxious To her it seemsthat Martin issofoolish andeven mad Martin realizesthat however he does not makeany explanation for he knows his sister can not understandhim and he is appalledat theawful intellectualchasm thatyawns betweenhim and his people He could never crossit andexplain to them It constitutestheir wholelexicon ofideas Get ajob Go towork That ishissister s firmadvice Martin Edenfeels disappointed about thatagain since whathe needs is encouragement even ifit werejust oneword When sheoffers himsome money Martin shakeshis headhopelessly What he needsisnot pitynor money but encouragementand undersanding However nobody understandshim not even his dearsister Although hissister loveshim she loveshim inan improperway 3 2I solated fromHi sOl dFel lows Thereare manydear fellowsin his ownclasswith whomhe growsup They alllive poorlives however they arehappy andoptimistic fighting with each other and earningtheir livingtogether Martin Edenbeesahero amongthem thankstohisstrength andgreat courageto fight Life inthelower class isnot aselegant asthe upper class however he canbe himselfand exerthis advantages When hemeets Ruth he fallsinto thetrap he couldneverget out of He admiresthe lifeof the upper class and strugglesfor whathe hasdreamed of regardless ofhis dearfellow s objection And Martin Eden swritinghas transformedhim intoa newman The transformationallows him to understand the societyhe dreams of better Disappointed by the reality hefallsinto loneliness recalls his old daysand wantsto returnto the world heusedto be familiarwith However he findsit istoo late for hehas goneso far When Before Martin fells inlovewithRuthand decidesto bea writer he lives a happy and freelife withhis workingfellows After that he beginsto admirethe lifeof upper classandpays hisall attention to readand write And hewas ennobled as well by theloftiness ofthought andbeauty hefound inthe books This ledhim to believe morefirmly thanever thatup abovehim in societylike Ruthand herfamily all menand womenthought thesethoughts andlived them Down belowwhere helived wasthe ignoble andhewantedtopurge himselfof theignoble thathad soiledall hisdays and torise to that sublimatedrealm wheredwelt the upper classes Jack London 1992 103 The bookshe readsportray atotal differentworld to Martin and it seemsso cleanand beautiful It is the booksand thesurface of theupper class s lifethat makehim decidetogetride ofhis oldpanions old outlookand oldways of life and pursueto thelife hedreamsof Since heleaves theold fellowsand has no newfriends he feelslonely Just likeBrissenden saysin Chapter36 You readthe booksand youfound yourselfalone Jack London 1992 305 Nevertheless after Martinstarts writingand does not makesuess as he supposed he realizesthe truelove ofhisoldfriends andmiss thepast lifevery much In chapter42 hegoestotheBricklayers Piic heldat ShellMound Park He drinksand danceswith theworking people and He feltlike aprince returnedfrom exile andhislonely heartburgeoned inthe genialityin whichit bathed He madea madday ofit and wasat his best Jack London 1992 395 However he hadtraveled far too farto goback Their modeoflife which hadonce beenhis was nowdistasteful tohim He wasdisappointed withit all He haddeveloped intoan alien As thesteam beerhad tastedraw so theirpanionship seemedraw tohim He wastoo farremoved Too manythousands ofopened booksyawned between them andhim He hadexiled himself He hadtraveled inthe vastrealm ofintellect untilhe couldno longerreturn home While among Martin s workingfellows Lizz Connollyand MariaSilva playspecial rolesin his life Though asa girlinthelower class Lizzie showsher eleganceand generosity and she isthe only youngwoman whoreally loveshimnomatter howpoor orrich he is I coulddie foryou Jack London 1992 421 Those are the bestwords Lizziecan givehim As forthis girl Martin shows his greatestrespect You are a greatandnoblewoman It isI whoshould bepround to know you And youarearay forme inaverydark world Jack London 1992 423 Nevertheless Martin wouldnot marrythis girlor bringher happiness though heknows it is easyfor him to do that if he likes The otherspecial womanis MariaSilva a Portugueselandlady who isa viragoandawidow is oneof thepeople whotakecareof MartinEden when he is in trouble Having somanychildren Maria hastoworkvery hard Though shelivesahard life she alsolends Martina hand Maria showsher sympathyfor Martinwhen he is ineconomic trouble When Martin is deadlyin needof food Maria triesto savesome foodfrom herlittle childrenfor him However Martin isquite awareof these heknowsall theseare thecharity fromhis ownpeople When she finds Martinget touchwith noblehigher classpeople Martin s imagebees muchgreater inher mind Then whenMaria notesMartin onceworked asa laundryman all glamourof romancewith which her imaginationhas investshim all thelong mysterydisappeared She realizesheisa mereworkingman a memberofher ownclassand caste When Martinisfamous Maria couldnot figureout whathas happened As for the booksMartin givesher asa present Maria respectsthem butshe wouldnever understand what it is At lastMartin rewardsthis warm hearted landladywith moneywhich letherand her childrenliveahappyandbetter life To someextent Marisa Silvaisthesame kindof peoplelike MartinEden Both of them suffera lotfrom povertyand loneliness but it does notmean Mariaunderstand wellhim 3 3Death ofBri ssendenBrissenden isnot onlyMartinEden sbest friend but also hisspirit tutor The firsttime whenMartin meetshim he realizesBrissenden isdifferent fromothers Though seemedfeather brained Brissenden reallygives Martina hitwhenheshowshisfull scaled knowledge He isthe secondperson Martinhas metwho knowseverything but heis evenbetter thanthefirstone Professor Caldwell becauseofhis flashinginsight andperception andtheflaming uncontrolledgenius He realizesBrissenden isintelligent anda livingbook for himtolook upto Then itproves thatBrissenden deservesMartin s appreciation Brissenden doesnotonlyhave agood mandof bestknowledge butalsohas his own ideasabout publishing peopleandthe society He haspointed outthat Martinwould havetrouble becauseof womanand would be destroyedbyabourgeoisie beauty However Martinpays littleattentiontohis friends warning At that moment Brissenden stilldoesnotrealize the beautiful ladywho destroysMartinisRuth even so he doesnot takemeanstosave Martin because hehasbeenpolluted by the perfect dream the bourgeoisiesociety As the best friends they sharetheir workstogether andmunicatewitheachother When Brissendenrealizes Martinis dangerousto falllonely andhopeless headvises Martinto goback tohis ownworld tothesea ortohis socialism Unfortunately Martin doesnot takehis advice After Brissenden sdeath Martinis aware thathow correctBrissenden is but he cannotchange thesituation anymore Losing thebestfriend hecannot sharehis ideaswith anyone Then whenBrissenden s wordse true he regretsthathe should havelistened tohisdear friend s words If so he shouldhave hisown thoughtsand havemany friendssharing hisideas andhis happinessand sorrows Anyway it istoo late He haslost hisdearfriendand spiritualguider andhe doesnot know whatto dowithout thetrue leader He justlet himselfstay inthedarkand lonelyworld without lightor hope Perhaps the socialismisthebest wayforhimto turnto but hegivesupthebestchance tojoin Aliened fromhisownpeople having nofriends todepend on heissurrounded bydeep lonelinessand bitterness 4 0Rejecti onof theUpper Class Fromthe verybeginning the highersociety representedbytheMorse familyisaparadise inMartin s mind He believeshe couldgain itas longasheworks harden