The Power of the Sea Wolf Jack London's novel, The Sea Wolf, has many different interpretations. The story can be read as a combination of the naturalistic novel and the sentimental romance, both very popular at the turn of the century. London also brings into play literary naturalism, in which human beings are characterized as one species among others in nature, subject to all its cosmic forces. The Sea Wolf corresponds almost perfectly to the archetypal pattern of an initiatory story. Depth and interest are added to The Sea-Wolf by successfully integrating these three elements: the combination of two popular genres, literary naturalism and the initiatory narrative. One of the common features of most naturalistic novels is the theme of survival of the fittest. . This novel is completely in agreement with this theory, put in place by Charles Darwin and his theory of natural selection. Humphrey Van Weyden and Maud Brewster are people who have never experienced physical difficulties. Both are "book" people, and find themselves in a strange environment when they find themselves stranded on this boat with an "ordinary devil" (49 years old), Wolf Larsen. Humphrey Van Weyden, after going through an "initiation process" which we will discuss later, finds himself unable to remember anything else clearly. "It seems I have always lived this life. The world of books is very vague, more like a dream memory than reality. I have surely hunted, raided and fought every day of my life" ( 229). Humphrey makes an almost perfect allusion to the survival of Darwin's best idea when he speaks to Wolf Larsen: “You used to be able to eat, as you liked to say; but there has been a reduction, and I am now able to eat. eat you" (249). Even Maud ...... middle of paper ...... ruled Hump. Hump survives this so-called "ordeal" and reaches the third stage of the initiation process: the return to the group With the start of this stage, the initiate is transformed into Mr. Van Weyden, as Wolf Larsen promotes him to first lieutenant to replace Johansen. Unlike Larsen, he maintains good relations with all members of the crew. Once this last stage is completed, he finds the courage to flee the ghost and Larsen and escape with Maud Brewster. One of the richest and most interesting novels ever written, Jack London used various literary techniques to bring his story to life through the combination of two popular genres of the time (naturalistic and romantic). use of literary naturalism and the story of an initiation, London brings the characters to life..