Talk:Martin Eden

("...weak and evil...")

What a weak and evil man Jack London was, disparaging individualism and ambition in this manner. I'm glad this dreadful book was a complete flop, it seems there is some justice in the world after all. --194.81.33.10 (talk) 22:01, 17 May 2011 (UTC)

   191, I'm a daft old wreck of a man (which is sad), but not yet a stupid one. You sound like a bitter young man ... or, rather, you did 8 years ago. (Lemme be obnoxious, pretentious, and, even more fun, annoying especially if right, by speculating that you're now between 25 and 30.) If I am right then you fulfill a stereotype. (If I am wrong, which IMO is neither likely nor unlikely, ... well, then I don't rule out the possibility that I am mistaken or even pathetic in feeling sorry for you.)

   But in any case, you are young as a writer and thinker. "Weak" and "evil" aren't flabby words but you made them sound so; individualism and ambition aren't dumb ideas but you made them sound so; maybe you've already grown into the ability to do the work that precedes doing otherwise. If not, eight years isn't that long, and most lives are long enough.

   Best wishes,
--JerzyA (talk) 10:39, 11 April 2019 (UTC)

   Oops; IMO: it's both

the right or prerogative (There's a red or blue link that I can follow to the article "prerogative", to find out if I've misused it), of the initiator of a discussion section, to create the heading and thereby give a title to that section, and the authority to remediate, and

the responsibility to do so,

devolve to, respectively, editors and admins; I now notice that I nearly forgot it -- despite the specificity of my intention.

--JerzyA (talk) 12:09, 11 April 2019 (UTC)

In popular culture

The Twilight Singers have a song called "Martin Eden" on their 2003 album Blackberry Belle. The song espouses themes of alienation and depression. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.28.108.64 (talk) 17:18, 20 November 2011 (UTC)

Can anyone find a reliable source that indicates that the song is actually a reference to Jack London's novel? A lyrics site provides these, and I don't see any clear connection. Even the mention of suicide--Martin Eden drowned in the Pacific Ocean, not in a river. There's no mention of writing, no mention of the mood being a reaction to success. One could just as well see Martin Eden in the Beatles' "A Day in the Life."

“ Black out the windows

I'ts party time You know how I love stormy weather So, let's all play suicide....

How wide? How deep the river? Black-as dark as night How long? How far? I'll know when I get to the other side

I breathe in Unchain myself- Tonite's the night No wind, rain, conversation-

Brings me back alive tonite How wide? How deep the river black as night.

”

Dpbsmith (talk) 14:22, 21 November 2011 (UTC)

That's what makes it an "Allusion in Popular culture". The song is about depression, integrity, alienation, and suicide. The main character of the song is comparing himself to Martin, but lacking a convenient ocean nearby, is thinking about throwing himself int he river. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.35.126.216 (talk) 17:55, 15 December 2011 (UTC)