从马克思主义文学批评看杰克·伦敦的《马丁·伊登》-英语语言文学专业论文.docxVIP

Introduction Jack London (1876-1916) is one of the most famous American realistic writers at the beginning of the 20th century. He is also a journalist and social activist. London was born in San Francisco with a wooden spoon in his mouth. He is a pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction and is one of the first fiction writers to gain worldwide celebrity and a large fortune from his fiction alone. When he was ten, he studied at grade school, selling newspapers to support his family. At thirteen, he worked in a cannery with very little pay to strive for life. Later, he took some jobs, working as a child labor, a worker, and a pirate for oysters one after another. In 1893, a severe economic crisis broke out in the United States. London participated in the “Hunger March” Movement organized by some unemployed workers and soon lived as a tramp, begging from door to door for a long time. He was once arrested on the charge of loafer. In 1897, he went to Alaska in the hope of panning for gold, but he failed at last. What’s worse, he was infected with scurvy. Those sufferings help him build his strong body and provide a rich source for his literary creation. London went through numerous difficulties with perseverance and unyielding efforts. He studied day and night to acquire the endless knowledge by himself. During the era when the labor movement was rising in America, he took part in American Socialist Party and published a series of articles which had a lash-out at the American capitalists. (Qi Yikai, 1981:1-2) In general, London’s works have been enthusiastically read and appreciated by critics together with common readers. Much of his published works, written with his characteristic verve and blunt wit, are simply good for reading. From Jack London’s perspective, the best and the most convenient way to climb the social ladder is writing. He fulfills his ambition, but commits suicide after experiencing so many difficulties. Martin Eden, a semi