The representation of the societal collapse in Jack London's "The Scarlet Plague"

Abstract

This study examines the representation of societal collapse in a Dystopian novel written by American author, Jack London, by the title The Scarlet Plague. The research was conducted through the analysis of this novel, mainly the key concepts, themes, characters, and the literary and historical context. The main purpose of this study was to reveal the reflect of the core issues in the novel on nowadays concerns through highlighting the societal collapse in Jack London’s The Scarlet Plague. In order to do so, three main theories were employed during the analysis; Dystopia, Ecocriticism, and psychoanalysis theories. The study highlights vulnerabilities and consequences of a highly contagious and lethal virus. Additionally, it emphasize the fragility of the interconnected world and the potential mental degradation, as well as the importance of preserving knowledge and values.