Like his literary character, John Griffith Cheney from childhood earned hard work "daily bread." As a child, he sold newspapers, worked as a janitor, a factory worker. He is then hired by a sailor on a fishing vessel, as is Martin Eden. The summary of the novel in its first chapters is due to the self-identification of the novice writer, a sailor. After all, it was a trip — to the Bering Sea — that filled the soul of the future writer with such vivid impressions that he took up the pen. Then, like his Martin Eden, John Cheney decides to change his life, becoming a writer.
In some ways, the departure from the life of 40-year-old Jack London is similar to how Martin Eden did this to himself. The summary of the book tells us about suicide. The former sailor ducked and breathed water into his lungs. According to experts, the death of Jack London himself is associated with suicide (although this has not been proved) - a deliberate overdose of morphine (the writer eased the symptoms of renal failure). Further, the logic of the article leads us directly to a brief summary of the content of the novel.
Chapters I – II. The plot of the plot. Dissonance: in appearance - a sailor, inside - a poet
Ironically, Martin Eden begins. The summary of the first chapter shows us that Jack London, obviously, makes fun of himself in his youth: physically strong, self-centered, but constrained by poverty and lack of education sufficient for intellectual development.
His hero gets to lunch at the aristocratic house of the Morse family. The reason was that he, a twenty-year-old sailor, rebuffed the local hooligans when they tried to rob his peer Arthur Morse.
Here he meets his sister Ruth, studying at the university, and recklessly falls in love with her, fantasizing her image. In turn, the girl was more impressed with Martin’s male charisma and his passionate desire to learn.
Not out of noble intentions was invited, as Jack London, Martin Eden tells us. The summary of chapter II tells us that behind the external aristocracy and good manners of Arthur Morse there was a banal human meanness. He wanted to make fun of his savior - the "uneducated blockhead" in front of his family, having previously announced the visit, saying that he would bring an "interesting savage."
However, Martin was at his best, using all his powers of observation, all of his "instant learning." Without knowing it, he destroyed Arthur's plan.
When he tried to provoke him to a rude story, Martin led him so that the rudeness of the sailor was softened by good-natured humor, the spirit of adventure was accentuated and the beauty of the world and events he saw was vividly conveyed. It also organically combined powerful energy and indifference to the beautiful.
Chapters III – V. The world is crippling, the world is fooling
We see the temporary home of the protagonist. “Bird Rights” lives here (judging by how Jack London tells) Martin Eden. Summary of Chapter III - a description of his life in the house of his brother-in-law Bernard Higginbotam.
He is a shopkeeper by profession, and by nature - a greedy, vicious person, prone to meanness. It was not easy for the sister of the protagonist, Gertrude, to live with him. He mercilessly exploited it.
Martin Eden lives in a cramped closet with a bed, a washbasin and a chair. Here, in bestial conditions, inspired by love for Ruth, he decides to change. He makes an important decision: to devote time to education, culture, hygiene in order to rise to the level of his ideal - the “flower girl”.
He is outraged by the primitivism of his neighbor Jim, who spends his free time dancing, drinking, and girls, and he refuses his offer to have a good time.
Martin decides that “he is not like that” and goes to the library. Not without irony about the first visit to this place writes in the novel London Jack Martin Eden. A brief summary of this plot lies in the suppression of the main character from the number of "treasures of wisdom" surrounding him and the realization that he does not yet have a key to them (that is, the knowledge necessary for a full reading). He wandered around the halls of the Auckland Library for a long time, helpless and confused, and then returned home with nothing.
Chapter VI – VIII. Stage of self-education
Time has passed. Martin Eden immediately enrolled in both the Auckland and Barclay libraries. Moreover, in each of them, in addition to his subscription, he opened subscriptions to his two sisters: Gertrude and Maria, and also to Jim's apprentice. In his closet, he carried piles of books, reading them day and night.
He began reading with the works of Swinburne, then drew attention to the works of Karl Marx, Riccardo, Adam Smith. I even tried to read the Secret Doctrine of Blavatsky ...
He was looking for a meeting with Ruth. And even once he went to the theater after being groomed, in a clean shirt and ironed trousers. Lizzie Conolly wants to meet him, a beautiful brunette from a working-class family. Martin realized that in his heart there was only room for Ruth. On the advice of the librarian, he made an appointment with her over the phone. With Ruth he talked only about his self-education. Her advice is standard: first secondary, and then higher education. However, the tuition exceeds Martin's income, and the family will not be able to help him. (How close it was to Jack London himself!)
The young man had only one way - self-education. Ruth really helps him learn grammar. After grammar, he suddenly and not without success began to master poetics.
Martin began to meet Ruth more often. The girl quietly began to fall in love with him.
Chapter IX – XIII. Martin Eden, the stage of self-knowledge. Editors ignore
Earlier, the money earned by the sailor was spent, and he took part in an eight-month expedition to the Solomon Islands with a view to earning money. Surrounding noted: his speech became noticeably more correct. In addition, in the voyage, the Norwegian captain provided him with a volume of Shakespeare for reading.
Undoubtedly, a brief summary formulated for the novel “Martin Eden” is a peculiar evolution of the human creator . In English, good old Shakespearean English, Martin learned to express his thoughts in swimming.
Returning to Auckland, he did not immediately go to Ruth, but in three days wrote an essay in the magazine “The San Francisco Observer,” and then the first part of the story about whalers. Now he wrote three thousand words a day. He hoped to earn money to appear successful before his lady.
Soon, the young man was waiting for disappointment: he failed the entrance exams to high school - everything except grammar. In addition, the editors of the journals to which he sent his works returned them to him without publication.
An unexpected call from Ruth, and ... Martin escorts her arm to the lecture. On the way, he meets and greets Lizzy Conolly and her girlfriend, trying to get to know him in the theater.
Returning home to his miserable closet, sitting on the bed, painfully reflects: is he right, recklessly falling in love with Miss Morse, a woman not from his circle. He wonders if his chosen love will bring him to good.
Martin finally truly identifies himself creatively. At first, he was confused by the impenetrability of the editors, and then undertook a “brainstorm”. Thanks to painful thoughts, he, doomed in his development to rely only on himself, comes to the right conclusions. Assessing his previous literary failures, he exposes himself to ignorance, to an unformed understanding of beauty, to the immaturity of feelings. It is valuable that he develops these qualities in himself with his labor.
The tool for rethinking was Spencer's philosophy of the unity of the world. He finally understood how mature reasoning is being built, he realized how to write, he came to a real creative process: to deny his former amateurish rejection of the grayness of the world. He understood: the harmony of the world is much more important.
His guesses about the redundancy of "general education" (strongly imposed by Ruth) were confirmed in an impromptu "dispute for three", in which Ruth, Olnay (Norman's friend) and he participated. The opinion won that talent should develop only in a certain “own” direction.
Chapter XIV – XV. Self-knowledge
Obviously, as a personal (not documentary, but artistic) confession about his career, Jack London (Martin Eden) wrote a novel. A summary of the chapters of this book convinces: creativity develops through trial and error ...
Ruth, at the request of Martin, reads his essays in order to possibly find the weakness. In part, she succeeds. However, at the same time, she feels the artistic power of Martin, who is penetratingly describing the “wrong and dirty life” of ordinary people, which is unfamiliar to her. The emotional strength of the aspiring author is so expressive that Ruth clearly feels his love. However, for her, the subconscious ideal of a man is the type of her father.
Martin himself was spiritually reborn by this time. He recalls his six-year-old conflict with a guy nicknamed Oil Erysipelas. Fights were regular. In the end, opponents (already grown guys) almost killed each other. Stupid, meaningless conflict. The main character is terrified of his inner world in those years ... He feels remorse.
Chapters XVI – XVIII. Work in the laundry room of the Teply Klyuch hotel
Money is needed to do literature. Martin - an accomplice working for $ 40 per month, housing and food - are guaranteed. Work - exhausting, irregular. The young man felt like a "ghost in the realm of labor." He leaves this vicious circle, depriving him of strength and interest in life, deciding in principle: you must not let emptiness into your life.
At the same time, the aristocratic Morse family is discussing it.
There is a conversation between mom and daughter - Mrs. and Miss Morse. Ruth talks about the fact that Martin is in love with her, about his influence on him. Mrs. Morse retells the conversation to her husband. The couple decide when Martin goes swimming (he didn’t earn money in the laundry room), send his daughter east to Aunt Clara.
Chapters XX – XXIII. The love and engagement of Ruth and Martin
Ruth finally falls in love with Martin. He instinctively wisely is in no hurry to show his love. The first is explained by Ruth. She cares about his inner energy, masculinity, talent.
Parents, in principle, are opposed, but decide to consider them engaged, secretly hoping for their soon break. They were not mistaken, relying on the commercialism of his daughter.
Chapters XX – XXIII. Writer breakthrough
The protagonist rents a room with the poor Portuguese Maria Silva. He continues to write unpublished articles, desperate for poverty. Sells things: a coat, a bicycle, a suit, buying the simplest products with the money raised. He is starving, occasionally dining with his sister and Ruth.
Suddenly, one Transcontinental Bulletin magazine agrees to publish his article “The Ringing of the Bell”, though not for the legitimate $ 100 (Martin desperately needs to pay $ 56 in return for bought and eaten food, housing, and things in a pawnshop). Fraudsters are going to evaluate his work at only $ 5. He is morally trampled, his immunity is reduced, and the former sailor is seriously ill with the flu.
Suddenly, Martin’s articles begin to be published, checks for small amounts from magazines gradually come. He is paying off his debts. Finally, he is recognized as a writer.
However, he still has to learn the vicious "kitchen" of journalism. Soon editorial defaults begin. Martin’s return to the Transcontinental Monthly of five dollars earned is turning into a real farce. At the same time, the Hornets editors, strong, smooth-shaven swindlers, even “helped him get down the stairs faster”. And although they then "drank in honor of meeting", but $ 15 remained with the "winners".
Ruth is shortsighted in his perception of the ideal of a man. She does not recognize the talent of her chosen one, yet she wants Martin to have a “solid income” as an employee. She is convinced that he should get a job with her father.
In addition, Ruth is a child of her circle. She is embarrassed that her chosen one communicates with the poor.
Chapters XXXI – XXXVII. Creative maturity. Friendship with Brissenden
Outgoing Martin meets Mr. Morse's guest - Ress Brissenden, a freethinker, a man who suffers from consumption, but who is in love with life. They, congenial people, become friends.
Ress came from Arizona, where he underwent a course of climate treatment for two years. Outwardly, he was of medium height, with “sloping shoulders”, lively “brown eyes”, aristocratic features: an aquiline nose and hollow cheeks.
He possessed an encyclopedic erudition. Martin, after reading his poem "Ethereum" (one-day) - a philosophical rethinking of Man, called it a genius. He rethought a lot and expressed his personal, unique opinions in the conversation.
In particular, he explained with half a turn why the magazines didn’t print Martin’s articles: “There is depth in you, and the magazines don’t need it ... They print garbage and supply it in excess.” Having familiarized himself with the verses of the former sailor, Ress expressed the judgment that he was a real poet. He insightfully warned Martin Eden “not to fly far,” because “his wings are too tender.” Ruth, he described (with ruthless truthfulness and to the indignation of Martin) "pale and insignificant." Her attempts to re-educate the sailor - "miserable morality", due to the "fear of life." Ress advised the protagonist to find a woman - a “bright butterfly” with a “free soul”.
In addition, he promises to introduce him to people "who have also read something," with whom Martin will have something to talk about. To do this, friends first "in January evening" went to the "working quarter outside Market Street." Here they really met smart and educated people (idealist Norton, former professor Craise). Martin (at the suggestion of Brissinden) entered into an interesting debate with Craze.
Chapter XXXVIII. Adversity and Harassment
For the second time, comrades come to the club of socialists.
In discussing the speaker’s interesting speech, Martin also speaks. It simply brings clarity to the confusion of opinions, based on the elementary laws of evolution. But there is also a young, zealous and sensationalist reporter.
He composed a libel about the "fierce long-haired" socialists, and, having invented a speech that played up the word "revolution", put it into Martin's mouth, presenting him as a socialist.
In our opinion, it is extremely important to mention the irony with which Jack London wrote the novel (Martin Eden). A summary of chapters in English invariably pays attention to one scene from a book ... It is about the same brazen reporter. Trying to "deepen the topic", this foul-smelling shameless young man, sincerely believing that he was "doing Martin an advertisement," came to take an additional interview.
It was just that the former sailor was also present with Brissinden ... With convincing irony (this is one of our favorite passages in the novel), Jack London tells with what comments, holding the reporter’s head between his knees, he spanked this liar, “having done his mom’s favor”, Martin.
In response, this young rat wrote another lie - a libel on Martin. Believe me, Jack London expressed a lot of personal in this short story (after all, he himself was persecuted for his socialist views).
The "vile trick" of the reporter messed with the main character of the book personal life. Soon, in a letter, Ruth announced the breaking of the engagement. But lackeys didn’t let Martin into the house to the Morse, justifying them with the fact that “there is nobody at home”.
Five days passed after a meeting of friends, and through the efforts of Martin Eferemida, Brissinden was accepted by the Parthenon magazine with an exorbitant fee of $ 350 and an enthusiastic review by critics. Going in search of a friend, Martin was shocked: he shot himself in a hotel bed, returning from him and passing on his poem. In a state of crisis, tormented by lack of money, he completes his novel “Belated”.
Chapters XLV. Life force leaves Martin Eden
Later, he will transfer the received $ 350 to Brissinden's clerk along with a receipt of the $ 100 debt that he presented to him at the last meeting.
Next - the wheel of fortune began to work for Martin: they began to publish it. Top-notch magazines vied to print his articles, offering hundreds of dollars for them. Paid checks arrived in the mail, but it was too late. He, "burnt out from within," could no longer write. Martin was immensely lonely, losing Ruth and Brissinden. He simply laughed philosophically at the money he earned.
However, his big heart still found them worthy of use. His beloved sister, Gertrude, was exhausted by the housework entrusted to her by a stingy husband. Martin insisted that she hire a servant for his money and then work for herself in joy, and not "for wear and tear".
A little later, he meets his wandering laundry mate Joe (they both left this exhausting and numbing work). Affluent Martin gives Joe a small laundry room.
Finally, recognition comes to him. "Its price" among publishers is growing by an order of magnitude. He is fashionable. Doors open before him, he is invited to the "venerable houses." Even Mr. Morse considered it an honor if Martin visited his house. But even the smart and energetic Lizzy Conolly who is in love with him from a meeting in the theater cannot awaken him to life. Ruth, who had suddenly come and was trying to revive the lost relationship, could not return his feelings. He finally realizes the mercantilism of this girl and the fact that he previously loved not her, but some kind of "ideal Ruth." The real Ruth was ready to destroy his talent.
Martin is “sick with satiety with life”, is cold from the inside and longs for peace.
Chapter XLVI. On the way to death
Like rock leads Martin to death, he is drawn to the Marquesas Islands, deprived of the vulgarity of civilization.
An inner voice tells him: “Take Lizzie Conolly with you!”, But the devastated Martin makes a fatal mistake without taking it aboard the Mariposa.
Returning to his cabin in the 1st class, he picks up a volume of Swinborn poems, paying attention to philosophical lines about the transience of human life. The suicidal motives of the poet’s lyrics find a response in Martin’s tormented heart.
He throws himself into the deep sea. The ship floats into the distance at night, and Martin, having taken a vertical position of the body, tries, having plunged into water, to breathe it into the lungs. He succeeds not the first time. He determines the cause - the will to live. (It is interesting that later Jack London will write a story under this title). However, from the following attempts, Martin manages to deceive the body, it sinks deeper, consciousness fades, rainbow visions arise ...
Instead of a conclusion
When discussing the novel, the question arises, what is its value? Should I read the book if the Internet already exists for almost any novel (including “Martin Eden”) summary? Briefs, as a site with a library of summaries, are very informative ...
I think, having heard this, Jack London would be offended. After all, his book “Martin Eden” is a hymn to natural creativity, an ode to self-knowledge and work on oneself!
How useful it would be for modern writers and copywriters to feel the spirit of the hero of Jack London! Moreover, the author presents him as a living person, making it possible for subsequent adherents of literature to avoid their mistakes.