Jack London’s “Chinago” § Background: the author’s, the story’s § Class/Race Relations in the story § London’s ideological contradictions
Jack London § I. Life --Born of a working class family, failing to get rich in the Gold rush, he chose to become a writer to avoid the prospectus of being a factory worker. § II. Contradictions in Jack London a. Social Darwinism & Scientific Racism appreciative of other cultures b. anti-Capitalism Celebrity endorsement c. supportive of women’s suffrage patriarchal to his two wives and two daughters
The reality of "Free Emigration" § 19 th century: Emancipation of slaves; expansion of capitalism § The exportation of Chinese coolies as contract laborers to Americas § The coolies maltreated in the host countries -- exploited -- violently discriminated against and excluded § Reference: 華 出國史料匯編 (一到十輯) 文圖 索書號 336. 92 7548
“Chinago”: Social Relations English Company/ French Government Chief Justice/ Schemmer/ Seagent / Cruchot--gendarme Tahitian Chinese coolies
The Exploitative, Unfair and Erroneous System I. Capitalism: I. 500 bodies = Labor power = bales of fluffy cotton 836 -37; II. The pressure of the stockholders III. Supportive of Schemmer’s violence (his fist); e. g. Schemmer killed a coolie, but can get a doctor's certificate that the latter
The Exploitative, Unfair & Erroneous System II. The court: supportive of capitalism, French superiority 835 l l Judgment by appearance. (p. 839) The error of the chief Justice. (p. 840) Blame it on the jailer. (p. 846) Killing as a performance, losing three hours’ work III. Hierarchy: Cruchot knows that there is a mistake, but he can only obey his superiors. p. 842; 843 Racism ”It is only a chinago. " Coolie's life seems to be valueless
Representation of the Chinese § Inscrutable and submissive : l l l Respect of Authorities (magistrate) Failure to understand the white devils and the situation; Impassive and expressionless when hearing the verdict; § Ah Cho: l l Easily satisfied—the coolie still enjoys the low payment (p. 835 -6) Gentle and patient—(“Patience of Asia” 839; Garden of calm delight 836; 840; 844 -first paragraph, “Forgive malice”-p. 847, L 23 -25)
Representation of the Chinese § Selfish—Ah Cho shows no mercy to Ah Chow, only curiosity (p. 839, L 32 -8); out of 500 coolies, no one dare to prove that Ah Cho is innocent (pp. 844; 845, L 2 -4)
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