Martin Eden

After Martin achieves literary fame, the people who abandoned him and failed to believe in his dream of becoming a successful writer suddenly desire his company. The bitter mantra of “work performed” consumes him. What is the significance of “work performed”? Why does Martin obsess over the phrase, and how does it contribute to his downfall?

Martin’s lack of education is the biggest thing that separates him from Ruth and other members of the bourgeoisie throughout the early parts of the novel. However, education fuels Martin’s sense of alienation and his eventual estrangement from all classes of society. What is the novel’s position on whether education can fundamentally change one’s nature?

From a young age, Martin was forced to work to survive. Examine the types of work he performs in the novel. How do other characters’ opinions of what constitutes work contrast with his experience? What differences between the physical and intellectual labor does he experience?

Throughout the novel, the imagery of machinery symbolizes aspects of working-class life. How does the motif of machinery help convey the novel’s depiction of class relations? What other notable works use this imagery?

By the time Martin achieves fame, the reality of it means nothing to him. Life has become hollow and meaningless. What were Martin’s initial reasons for seeking fame, and how do they differ from ordinary motivations? How do other people’s opinions, particularly those of Ruth and Brissenden, alter Martin’s perception of fame?

Unlike Martin, Jack London was an avowed socialist, once speaking before the Socialist Democratic Party. How does Martin Eden critique the concept of Nietzschean individualism and will to power? How do Martin’s life experiences undermine his own personal philosophy? Compare and contrast democratic socialism with Nietzsche’s concept of will to power.

Ruth Morse and Lizzie Connolly are the novel’s main female characters. Compare and contrast their origins and character development. What do they reveal about women of their social classes? How do they respond to Martin’s growth throughout the novel?

While Ruth has a university education and generational wealth, Martin has a wealth of real-world experience. How does experience differ from education? How can each of these concepts cause one to become alienated from reality?