Martin Eden :: essays papers

Martin heavenJack capital of the United Kingdom, prestigious antecedent of Martin paradise issues his opinions intohis work. Aspects of diametrical societies argon prevalent throughout hiswork and the class struggle between different classes of characters isapparent in his writing. Although not an autobiography much of hiswriting give the sack appear to include his personal views on life. Martin Eden,the protagonist created by London begins as a petty seaman works hishis instruction to the fastness class of society. Through self-determination andself-education he is able to engender a member of the bourgeois. Writerswith styles similar to London in that they all write in the same stylein that shows the struggle of the poor and their uprise to the upperclass only to see that it reveals a faux ideal. Alice Hoffman author ofHere On Earth appears to hold many of the same beliefs as Martin whichare seen throughout her novel.Martin Eden was forced to make his own living. Eden was nevergiven anything and had to work to gain everything he wanted.Everyday struggles include finding the simple necessities offood and shelter. As a poor sailor, Eden looked around and sawthe ideals of the bourgeois. Through the eyes of Eden theBourgeois were the educated, wealthy, and were what Martin in demand(p) to become. He dreams of becoming educated and belongingto the upper class in the long run he finds one small connectionthat opens up a pertly world to the once struggling seaman.Although later disproved, his first impressions of this classwere seen from an outlanders view as perfect. Here wasintellectual life, he thought, and present was beauty, warm andwonderful as he had never dreamed it could be. (p. 40) Martincomes into encounter with a family that introduces him to this reinvigorated world. The Morse family was all Martin dreamed of, heviewed them, as them part of a perfect society and Ruth was thefocal station of it. Ruth was heavenly like a flower herculture and sophistication stimulated him.Introduction to this new class surprised Martin. The library, anew idea to him, becomes his new haven. Although he lacked boththe time and money necessary for a traditional educationbetween sailing he began his way to self-education. In thebeginning Martin was separated from Ruth because of their classdifference, but as this yearning for education developed he andRuth become involved. He wasnt of their tribe, and hecouldnt talk their lingo was the way he put it to himself. Hecouldnt fake being their kind. (p. 51) Although he wasntborn any with any of these privileges he made it his business