Jack London’s Confusion:

Jack London has created a man of independence and rebellion in Martin Eden, and the work has long been regarded as a eulogy of individualism. However, London has repeatedly claimed it was intended as an attack upon individualism. To the individualism embodied in Martin’s deed, London’s attitude indeed appeared rather confused. On one hand, he advocated the hero’s brevity, insistence and originality; on the other hand, London disapproved the rebellious, indifferent and subjective features of the hero. He did not mean to either praise or attack individualism. His attitude toward Individualism was confused, and this confusion largely resulted from his extensive reading of new thought emerged in his time. Marxism, Social Darwinism and Nietzsche’s superman philosophy all has exerted profound influence upon London. In fact, it was the conflicts within those new ideas that constituted his confused attitude toward individualism.The main contents of this paper are as follows:the first chapter made a review of Martin Eden concerning individualism. At the same time, it briefly introduced the work and the background of creation. The second chapter from the positive parts of individualism praised Martin efforts. The third chapter mainly focused on the criticism of negative aspects of individualism Martin displayed in his rise. The fourth chapter made an analysis of London’s confusion upon individualism from the perspective of Socialism, Social Darwinism and Nietzsche’s superman philosophy. The last chapter reviewed the previous statement about individualism and pointed out that London’s confusion in face of individualism was the result of the conflict within in his philosophical thinking.