Posted by Alan Mierda on November 26, 19101 at 20:58:11:

In Reply to: Theme For posted by E on November 26, 19101 at 19:27:15:

"The Sea Wolf" is an allegory on the theme of man's place in the universe.

In the first chapter, we are introduced to the mad captain, Amos Holystone, whose obsessive pursuit of the giant squid known as the "Sea Wolf" symbolizes humanities' vain quest for worldly things.

The seemingly mild-mannered crew member, Fletcher Christian, tries to humanize Amos. As his name suggests, he symbolizes the redemptive power of religion.

In an odd sort of way, the captain's relation with the ship, "Leonore Overture," and its figurehead, seem to have almost an erotic overtone. When the tidal wave capsizes the ship, casting away its crew on the island of Juan Fernandes, he insists on rescuing the figurehead while leaving some crew members to be eaten by sharks.

Many critics feel that the ending, in which a volcano buries Amos under molten lava, is weak, both because Jack London was a careful enough researcher to know that Juan Fernandes is not volcanic, but also because it does not seem particularly plausible. Still, Amos is, in the end, destroyed by the forces of nature he sought to challenge.

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup