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  • Essay / Jack London's Sea Wolf: Analysis of Wolf Larsen's Legacy

    In the novel Jack London's Sea Wolf, the spirit of Wolf Larsen lives in Humphrey. Although Wolf's philosophy on life differs from that of Humphrey and Maud, Humphrey's interaction with Wolf impacts her to the extent that he adopts some of Wolf's characteristics, thus protecting Maud from the cruelty of the world that Wolf symbolized. On the one hand, Humphrey's exposure to Wolf shows him a different lifestyle and philosophy than he is accustomed to, causing Humphrey to return to Wolf's way of life, whether unconsciously or consciously. In contrast, Maud exhibits the same characteristics of fragility and need for protection throughout the novel and remains impervious to Wolf's savagery and cruelty. Clearly, Wolf has a stronger impact on Humphrey and his spirit lives on through Humphrey's impersonation, as well as his role as Maud's physical guardian. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayAt the end of the novel, Humphrey evolves from a privileged and powerless man to a man who proves his strength and abilities by taking easily Wolf's place. as captain of the boat. The cruel environment Humphrey experiences on the boat causes him to change his beliefs. Observing the reality of life and the need for strength, Humphrey's actions parallel Wolf's philosophy that a man must do whatever is necessary to survive. Humphrey expresses his joy when he says: “I felt like a man of power when I looked at him. I did it! I did it! With my own hands, I made it! (p. 274). Humphrey expresses happiness when he realizes that he is just as equal and capable as other men. He shows confidence and no longer feels inferior. In fact, Humphrey feels like "a man of power", similar to Wolf. Humphrey implies that in times of struggle, he is no longer helpless, but can muster the strength necessary to overcome any difficulty, just as Wolf had done in his never-ending quest to survive. Throughout the novel, Wolf claims the role of the powerful man, but now Humphrey equates himself with Wolf, implying that he feels superior to other men. By mentioning his “own hands,” Humphrey shows a transformation; Before joining the crew and Wolf, Humphrey never used his hands for physical labor and thus never demonstrated their strength. Throughout the novel, Humphrey realizes that the strength of a man's hands represents his ability to survive. When deciding what to do with Wolf's body, Humphrey remembers that "the spirit of something I had seen before was strong upon me, impelling me to do service to Wolf Larsen as Wolf Larsen had once done to another man” (p 279). At an earlier point in the novel, the wild action of disposing of a body by throwing it into the ocean horrified a dignified Humphrey. Wolf Larsen's example of a man doing whatever it takes to survive impacts Humphrey by leading him to throw Wolf's body overboard, just as Wolf had done so many times . Without Wolf to make decisions, Humphrey takes responsibility for solving problems. Performing a "service", Humphrey confidently assumes Wolf Larsen's position. At the same time, the reader might view "service" as a duty a leader owes to his followers, and in doing so, Humphrey switches places with Wolf Larsen. Maud stays true to her spirit by supporting Humphrey and relying on him to keep her safe. , which reveals that his exposure to Wolf and his extreme will to survive do not affect him. When Maud boards the ship, she appears delicate and, 2000.