Jack London

1
Jack Londons Chinago

• Background the authors, the storys
• Class/Race Relations in the story
• Londons ideological contradictions

2
Jack London

• I. Life --Born of a working class family, failing
  to get rich in the Gold rush, he chose to become
  a writer to avoid the prospectus of being a
  factory worker.
• II. Contradictions in Jack London
• a. Social Darwinism Scientific Racism
  
• appreciative of other
  cultures
• b. anti-Capitalism Celebrity
  endorsement
• c. supportive of womens suffrage
• patriarchal to his two wives and two daughters

3
The reality of "Free Emigration"

• 19th century Emancipation of slaves expansion
  of capitalism
• The exportation of Chinese coolies as contract
  laborers to Americas
• The coolies maltreated in the host countries
• -- exploited
• -- violently discriminated against and excluded
• Reference???????? (????) ?? ???336.92 7548

4
Chinago Social Relations
English Company/ French Government Chief
Justice/
Schemmer/ Seagent / Cruchot--gendarme

• Tahitian
• Chinese coolies

5
The Exploitative, Unfair and Erroneous System

1. Capitalism
2. 500 bodies Labor power bales of fluffy cotton
   836-37
3. The pressure of the stockholders
4. Supportive of Schemmers violence (his fist)
   e.g. Schemmer killed a coolie, but can get a
   doctor's certificate that the latter dies of
   sunstroke. (p.837)

6
The Exploitative, Unfair Erroneous System

• II. The court supportive of capitalism, French
  superiority 835
• Judgment by appearance. (p.839)
• The error of the chief Justice. (p.840)
• Blame it on the jailer. (p.846)
• Killing as a performance, losing three hours
  work
• III. Hierarchy Cruchot knows that there is a
  mistake, but he can only obey his superiors.
  p.842 843
• Racism It is
  only a chinago." Coolie's life seems to be
  valueless

7
Representation of the Chinese

• Inscrutable and submissive
• Respect of Authorities (magistrate)
• Failure to understand the white devils and the
  situation
• Impassive and expressionless when hearing the
  verdict
• Ah Cho
• Easily satisfiedthe coolie still enjoys the low
  payment (p. 835-6)
• Gentle and patient(Patience of Asia 839
  Garden of calm delight 836 840 844-first
  paragraph, Forgive malice-p. 847, L23-25)

8
Representation of the Chinese

• SelfishAh Cho shows no mercy to Ah Chow, only
  curiosity (p. 839, L32-8) out of 500 coolies, no
  one dare to prove that Ah Cho is innocent (pp.
  844 845, L2-4)