Abstract:Social Darwinism was very popular for many writers, and their works were influenced by this theory deeply during the end of 19th century and at the beginning of 20th century. Jack London was one of them who was influenced by this idea. Love of Life was a representative short novel of Jack London, it was always regarded as a naturalism novel, but there are few researches done from the perspective of Social Darwinism.
After a detailed reading of Love o f Life, this short novel mainly talked about the struggle for existence. Jack London used passionate words to describe that the protagonist struggled in the dangerous natural environment depending on the original instinct. He encountered the challenge of death and expressed a strong aspire to live. After the incredible endeavor, he won the struggle of survival. Thus, this dissertation analyzes the use of theory “Survival of the Fittest” of Social Darwinism in Love of Life.
It is the hope of the author that the present study will bring some new light to the interpretation of this great work.
Key words: Love of Life; Social Darwinism; survival of the fittest
摘要:19世纪末20世纪初,社会达尔文主义曾风靡一时,对许多作家及其作品影响深远,杰克•伦敦就是其中一位。作为杰克•伦敦的代表作,《热爱生命》一直以来都被定义为自然主义小说,所以很少有人从社会达尔文主义方面对其进行研究。
从对作品情节内容的研究来看,小说主要反映的是生存的斗争。杰克•伦敦以饱满激情的文字刻画了主人公凭借着原始的求生本能在凶险的自然环境中挣扎,遭遇了危机和死亡的考验,表现了对生命的强烈渴望,经过难以置信的努力之后,赢得了生存斗争。因此本文作者从社会达尔文主义的观点,深入探讨社会达尔文主义在《热爱生命》中的应用从而得出“适者生存”的主题.
希望本文的写作为《热爱生命》的解读提供一种新的视角和启发。
关键词:《热爱生命》;社会达尔文主义;适者生存