Martin Eden

Content Warning: This section refers to death by suicide.

Martin Eden’s favorite philosopher is Herbert Spencer, whose confluence of science and philosophy informs Martin’s writing and worldview. Spencer (1820-1903) was a philosophical disciple of Charles Darwin, extending the naturalist’s ideas into the realm of sociology. Spencer is known for his theory of social Darwinism, which defends social inequality based on the principle of “survival of the fittest.” Social Darwinism is often criticized as a misinterpretation of Darwin’s theories because Darwin valued the interdependency of organisms as they evolved into ecological niches in tandem. The influence of Spencer’s emphasis on individual strength and its relationship to success speaks to Martin’s naturally individualistic nature: He comes to believe that one should strive to break away from the opinions of the masses and rely on one’s own intelligence and strength of character.

Later in the novel, German philosopher Fredrich Nietzsche becomes another large influence on Martin’s personal philosophy. Martin embodies Nietzsche’s ideal of the “will to power,” humanity’s fundamental drive to transcend its limitations through force of will and creative effort. Martin’s belief in his own iconoclastic writing and philosophy, coupled with his idealization of self-educated, mold-breaking thinkers such as Brissenden and Kreis, demonstrates his will to power. In addition, Martin aligns with Nietzsche’s metaphor of “the blonde beast” from his famous philosophical text Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The blonde beast represents a primal and instinctual aspect of human nature that is characterized by strength, aggression, and a will to dominate. Nietzsche describes such a figure as an Übermensch (“overman”), an individual capable of transcending conventional social values and traditions, fully embracing personal will to power. This idea of an overman aligns closely with Martin’s “man on a horse,” an individualist who in his estimation is a true leader because he’s capable of overcoming both the debasement of the working class and the mediocrity of the bourgeoisie. Martin strives to embody this ideal.

While Martin Eden is largely autobiographical, London’s personal philosophy differs greatly from Martin’s. Although London projects his own love of social realism and science onto Martin, London was an outspoken socialist. His portrayal of Martin as a failed Nietzschean hero was meant to critique such ideals of hyper-individualism, though London later lamented that this critique was largely lost on the public in its reception of the novel. Martin becomes so isolated that he resorts to death by suicide, an act that London himself contemplated but ultimately overcame.