Published December 13, 2007
This is an analysis on "Call of the Wild". If you haven't read the book, you
might not want to read this. You won't know what I am talking about. Enjoy.
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In “Call of the Wild”, the author, Jack London has only one female
character in the novel. Her name is Mercedes. Believing in Naturalism,
London thought that women were weak little creatures and he made
Mercedes act as such.
Mercedes behaved very prissy and helpless in the story. She did not want to
break a nail, get dirty, or have to lift anything to heavy. She would always
complain about everything. However, during the early 1900’s, the Victorian
era, men perceived women in such a submissive role. And this was the
period in which London wrote this book. But he took it a step further; he
viewed women weak physically, mentally, and politically. In that case, his
views made women look frail and stupid. London seemed to have no
patience concerning Mercedes and hardly developed her character.
Women started to show that they were capable of anything at the turn of the
century when they fought for the right to vote. And then not long after,
during WW II, they were building tanks, planes, and other war machines.
They also started to work in factories. Women were definitely showing that
they were not feeble. After the war women got regular jobs in the work force.
Women proved they could work just as hard as men.
Mercedes was not a woman to inspire to. Although God calls a wife to submit
to her husband, it does not mean that she needs to be dismally pathetic.
Mercedes was portrayed as the opposite of women of today.
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*moved to non-fiction*
Yeah, I don't think historical fiction is the correct place for this, but I don't think book reviews is either because this isn't much of a review. Hum, don't know...
I don't like this quote, and yes, I know that you've based it off a verse in one of Paul's letters(Eph. 5:25). Some people will read this and take it the wrong way. The word "submit" does not mean to be inferior; it means to serve and help and cherish, just as Paul later tells husbands to love and protect and cherish their wives. It's a two way street.Anyway, a couple things about this little piece. First, I thoroughly enjoyed Call of the Wild, and White Fang too!. Second, I am a woman. Third, I think you're analyzing this too far.
Mercedes and her husband and brother are weak. They are portrayed as weak because they are of the city, not the wild. That is why they are so undeveloped. Yes, Mercedes is especially whiny, but you should also look at the other characters.
Finally, what was the point of this piece? If you were analyzing London and women, then you should have a conclusion. If you were dissecting Mercedes's characters, it's very shallow. All grammar and spelling and what-not is good. I just don't know what you were aiming for.
This isn't like the Call of the Wild I read.
Is this a different one? Anyway, you need to PM a mod to move this to someplace else, like "Book Reviews".