Jack London is Mexican. What makes you think about Jack London's story “The Mexican The Mexican in Brief”

A sullen, thin, dark-skinned gringo who appears at the beginning of the story. To the reader he seems like an episodic character. In one of the revolutionary headquarters, where all goals are for the liberation of the humiliated and insulted, an atmosphere of wariness and suspicion reigns. The new man came on his own, without demanding money, and took on the dirtiest work. The author deliberately aggravates the antipathy towards the 18-year-old guy, emphasizing his “poisonous, snake-like look in his black eyes.” But the fact that Felipe Rivera is a real hero will not be revealed immediately.

Retrospectively, John London reveals the reasons for Rivera's unusual behavior: the death of his parents from gendarme bullets, a thirst for revenge and a willingness to make any sacrifice for the sake of revenge. “This is for the revolution!” - says the guy, cleaning out the spittoons. It's hard to love such a hero. But the author does not strive for this.

They will love the winner. Circumstances can turn everything upside down. Public favorite champion boxer Dani Ward should be a beaten youngster in the ring and this will happen, even Rivera is destined to stand in the ring for 17 rounds. The referee counts to nine. You need to have time to get up and fight. This is how money was obtained for the revolution.

The background of the story about the boxer River

The uprising of 1910 was massive. The unrest was supported by patriotic latifundists. The confrontation between the government and the masses was caused, first of all, by increased American interference in the internal affairs of Mexico (an agreement was concluded on the creation of a US Navy base in the Mexican Magdalena Bay). The protracted rule of 83-year-old dictator Porfirio Duarte has hampered reform of society. Duarte's victory in the 1910 elections was considered fraudulent. The third reason was the outflow of peasants from the villages as a result of the crop failure of 1910. Hunger gave rise to unemployment, vagrancy, and banditry.

Porfirio Duarte emigrated from Mexico to France in June 1910, and the opposition led by Francisco Madera came to power. The long journey of the Liberal Party of Mexico, founded in 1901 (renamed the Liberal Junta in 1906), was crowned with success.

The boxing match described in Jack London's story may have taken place after the events of June 10, 1910, when the Ciudad Juarez customs station on the Mexican-American border was captured by rebels. The way has opened for arms supplies. But arms dealers had to be paid.

Riots, coups and wars continued until 1920. The revolution claimed the lives of 2 million people in a country of 15 million. In 1917, on February 5, the Mexican Constitution was adopted - the most progressive set of laws in the whole world of the first half of the 20th century. It is still valid today.

Jack London's political views

Socialist Jack London could not help but respond in his work to the events of the Mexican Revolution. John Griffith Cheney (the writer's real name), who took part in the march of the unemployed on Washington in 1894, carries out instructions for the Socialist Party of America (from 1901 to 1914).

The main character of The Mexican helps the revolution by becoming an uncomplaining floor cleaner in the newspaper office. This is exactly how Jack London himself earned his living after serving 30 days in prison for participating in a demonstration. After his release, Griffith Cheney, being 4 years older than his classmates, sits in classes at school, delivers ice, serves in a bowling alley, managing to study and feed himself, his mother and sisters. What is written in the story about Felipe Rivera “put a thousand two-cent marks on May Sethby’s desk” - a picture from the author’s biography.

London did not participate in boxing matches, but worked as selflessly as the hero of “The Mexican.” Especially when I was preparing to enter the University of California. The future student is ridiculed by his classmates for his ragged appearance. In 1996, Jack became a university student and wrote a lot. There is no free time, it is spent on cheap extra money. The “gold rush” promises a thirst for quick riches. Having dropped out of university, Jack London and his comrades carry their equipment to the source of the Yukon River. But the land of the plot turned out to be empty.

Writing success

Fortune smiled on the writer after writing a series of stories. Writing enriched no less than gold mines. The former hard worker turned into an oligarch and began to listen to the voices of the once “enemy side.”

Jack London at the end of his life (1916) became an adherent of centrist views. Contemporaries even testified to London's pro-racist statements.

The story “The Mexican” in the context of world literature

London's story "The Mexican" was included in the collection "Born in the Night", published in 1913 - two years after it was written, but still remaining relevant. The revolution either died down or flared up more intensely due to strife between parties. Jack London, who served as a war correspondent during Russo-Japanese War, could vividly tell the story of the confrontation of forces with an accurate description of the theater of military operations. But the writer narrowed the conflict to fist fight. As a result, the revolution became an extremely personal matter, a physiological need, a form of struggle for survival. Wounds, blood, pain and fainting are described in a naturalistic manner - everything that the author himself experienced more than once.

Brought up on the refined works for the bourgeoisie of the Englishman Kipling, the American London learned a lot from the works of his idol. London absorbed, as Boston's critics put it, "the power of imagination and dramatic intensity of Kipling." With the difference that London has a special “admiration of heroism.”

False feelings and far-fetched plots of America at the end of the 19th century bored both readers and editors. The American public had new idols: O. Henry, Dreiser, Jack London. In 1921, the star of the American painter George Bellows broke out. The themes of the paintings are portraits of workers, strikes, boxing matches.

"Petrel of the Revolution" Maxim Gorky visits the USA in 1906. The poetic style of the author of “The Song of the Falcon” was liked by the literary elite, and Jack London was delighted with the novel “Foma Gordeev”. Gorky follows the work of London, writes reviews of the works of like-minded people overseas. Both are characterized by romanticization of reality, even if reality is the bottom. The once revered Kipling began to come under attack, even from Jack London. But in “The Mexican” Kiplin’s voice clearly sounds:

“...Be able to put, in joyful hope,
On the card is everything that I have saved with difficulty,
Lose everything, and become a beggar, as before,
And never regret it!”
(R. Kipling, “The Commandment”, published 1910)

The guy appeared at the Junta headquarters recently. He was a frail young man of about eighteen. He told the members of the Junta that his name was Felipe Rivera, and that he wanted to work for the good of the revolution. At first, none of the revolutionaries believed the guy, suspecting him to be one of Diaz’s paid agents. Even having believed in his absolute patriotism, the Junta did not like him - his gloomy appearance and no less gloomy character were not conducive to this. The guy had the blood of Mexicans and native Indians. “Something poisonous, serpentine was hidden in his black eyes. A cold fire burned in them, a huge, concentrated anger.”

My revolutionary activity Felipe started by cleaning the Junta's office. “Where he slept they did not know; They also didn’t know when and where he ate.” Revolution is not a cheap affair, and the Junta was constantly in need of money. Felipe once paid sixty gold dollars for the rent of the premises in which the revolutionary center was located. Since then, from time to time the guy laid out “gold and silver for the needs of the Junta.” His comrades understood that Rivera “went through hell,” but they still could not love him.

Soon Phillipe received his first important assignment. “Juan Alvarado, the commander of the federal troops, turned out to be a scoundrel.” Because of him, the revolutionaries lost contact with old and new like-minded people in Baja California. Felipe restored contact, and Alvarado was found in bed with a knife in his chest. Now his comrades began to be afraid of Rivera. Very often the guy came so beaten that he could not perform his duties.

The closer the Mexican Revolution came, the less money the Junta had left. The moment came when everything was ready, but there was no money to buy weapons. Rivera promised to get five thousand dollars and disappeared. He went to Roberts, the boxing trainer. Felipe made all his money in the ring, where he served as a “punching bag” for more experienced athletes. Rivera learned a lot during this time. The coach believed that the guy was born for boxing, but Felipe was only interested in the revolution.

That day, a meeting between two famous boxers was planned, but one of the opponents broke his arm. Rivera was offered to replace him and meet the famous Danny Ward in a match. For the match, the guy was offered from one thousand to one thousand six hundred dollars, but Felipe was not satisfied with this. He wanted everything, so he proposed: winner takes all. Rivera was confident that he would beat Danny. This unshakable confidence angered Warrd, and he agreed.

Rivera appeared in the ring unnoticed - everyone was waiting for the champion Danny. Almost no one bet on Rivera. The fans believed that the guy would not last even five rounds. Felipe paid no attention to the audience. He recalled his childhood spent near the white walls of a hydroelectric station in Rio Blanco, his father, “a powerful, broad-shouldered man with a long mustache.” Then his name was not Felipe, but Juan Fernandez. His father was also a revolutionary. Rivera recalled the strike and the shooting of the workers involved. Felipe's parents were also shot.

Finally Danny entered the ring. The contrast between the sleek, well-fed and muscular Danny and his skinny opponent immediately became obvious. The public did not notice that River’s body was strong and lean, and his chest was wide and powerful.

The match began and Danny rained down punches on Felipe. Everyone was confident that Ward would win and everyone was amazed when Rivera knocked out the champion. But even the judge was on Danny's side - he counted down the minutes so slowly that the champion had time to come to his senses. For Felipe, these same minutes passed much faster. The guy was not surprised, because the match was held by the “dirty gringos” whom he hated so much. He was reminded of “train tracks in the desert; gendarmes and American policemen; prisons and police dungeons; tramps at water pumps - his whole terrible and bitter odyssey after Rio Blanco and the strike.” He thought of only one thing: the revolution needs weapons.

In the tenth round, Rivera was able to drop Danny three times with his signature punch. The guy’s persistence began to irritate the audience, because everyone was betting on the champion. The trainer and the owner of the gym began to persuade the guy to give up, and Felipe realized that they wanted to cheat him. From that moment on, he did not listen to anyone's advice. Danny was furious, he showered the stubborn man with a hail of blows. In the seventeenth round, Felipe pretended that his strength was over and knocked Danny out. Three times the champion stood up, and three times Rivera laid him down in the ring. Finally, Danny “lay down” completely, and the judge had to count Rivera’s victory.

Nobody congratulated Felipe. With a burning gaze of hatred, he looked around the hall, the hated faces of the gringos, and thought: “the revolution will continue.”

Created date: 1911.

Genre: story.

Subject: revolutionary ideals.

Idea: in the name of a great goal, a person is capable of anything.

Issues. Growing social tension under a dictatorial regime.

Main characters: Filipe Rivera, Danny Ward.

Plot. The headquarters for the preparation of the revolution in Mexico (Junta) is located in the United States. Diaz's dictatorial regime destroyed all revolutionary bases in his homeland. They lack weapons and money.

One day, a young boy of about eighteen comes to the Junta and declares that he wants to serve the revolution. They treat him with distrust and disdain. The first task for a newbie is cleaning the room.

Rivera talks very little. The guy just comes, does his job and leaves. When the Junta had money problems, Rivera came and silently put the required amount on the table. From that time on, he constantly brought money.

At first, members of the Junta did not like Rivera, and then they began to fear him. The guy could disappear for a month. He returned with signs of beatings, sometimes quite serious. The revolutionaries said among themselves that Rivera was the embodiment of a cruel and implacable force that knew no pity.

The date of the planned protest against the dictatorship was approaching. But the Junta had no money left for weapons and ammunition. It was urgent to get five thousand dollars. Rivera told the revolutionaries to order rifles. He swore that in three weeks he would bring this amount.

Rivera made money by performing in the boxing ring. Trainer Roberts picked him up half-starved on the street and offered him to become a training partner for the famous boxer for fifty cents. Rivera was able to last two rounds before losing consciousness. Roberts realized that this nondescript boy had an iron will and nerves of steel. Soon he already achieved several victories in real battles.

The long-awaited fight between Carty and Ward was approaching. But at the very last moment, Karti broke his arm. The director of Kelly's boxing office urgently needed to find someone to replace him. Rivera found out about this and came to Kelly. At first they didn't even take him seriously. Only after Roberts' personal guarantee did Kelly agree to put the young Mexican against Ward.

Ward was also dismissive of his opponent. He graciously agreed to give him twenty percent of the total amount raised whatever the outcome. But Rivera insisted that the winner take all the money. The total amount was about five thousand dollars. The stubbornness of the unknown Mexican infuriated the boxer. He agreed to this condition and declared that he would beat the insolent man to death.

Rivera was waiting for his opponent in the ring. He recalled his life. Once upon a time the Mexican had a different name. He lived with his loving father and mother. Rivera's father was a simple worker earning a pittance. Revolutionaries often gathered in his house. During the strike, fire was opened on the workers. Little boy I saw the corpses of my parents. After that, hatred settled in his heart forever.

Rivera hated boxing and the huge crowd of gringos that gathered for the spectacle. He looked at thousands of faces and saw the barrels of rifles.

Not only the entire hall and the judge, but even his seconds were opposed to the Mexican. Nobody believed that Rivera would win. Finally, everyone's favorite appeared - Ward.

The battle has begun. Ward wanted to end the impudent boy right away. He rained down blows on him, but the Mexican stood on his feet. Taking advantage of the moment, he sent Ward into a brutal knockdown.

Ward was a good boxer. He realized that he had mistaken the Mexican and continued the fight with caution. He had considerable experience on his side. He had knocked Rivera down more than once, but he always got up. By the seventh round, the crowd began to worry, and the judge openly helped Ward. This only spurred Rivera on. He realized that he was fighting alone for Mexico against all the hated gringos. In the tenth round, he knocked Ward down three times in a row. During the next break, Kelly himself ran up to Rivera and began to beg him to lie down.

The seventeenth round was decisive. Having withstood a crushing blow, Rivera began simply beating the experienced boxer. A policeman was already climbing into the ring when the Mexican struck the final blow. Nobody congratulated him on his victory. The exhausted guy stood alone among the crowd that hated him and suddenly remembered that he had won money. "The revolution will continue!"

Review of the work. The story “The Mexican” was written by D. London under the impression of the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Taking a real historical event as a basis, the writer created a heroic image of an ardent patriot of his homeland. Rivera embodies best qualities revolutionary: courage, boldness, the desire to achieve a goal by any means.

One day he appeared at headquarters new person, not yet known to anyone. His name, as he quickly introduced himself, was Felipe Rivera. He also said that he wanted to work very hard for the benefit of the revolution, and therefore asked to be accepted into their community.

But at first no one wanted to believe this guy, because they thought that he was a real detective and agent of Diaz. And even though the guy turned out to be very patriotic and loving his homeland, no one loved him for that. Because he was gloomy, and not only in appearance, but even more in character. It seemed as if in the eyes of the guy, who was half Indian and half Mexican, there was a hidden quiet, but very ardent anger, which, like a snake, could bite at the most inopportune moment.

A guy named Felipe started working for the revolution from the Junta office, that is, where all the participants, who were very patriotic, were located. They didn’t know where this strange guy slept, and they didn’t know where he ate either. The junta always needed money, and the more it was, the better for the revolution. So when this guy, half Mexican, paid sixty dollars in gold coins, they were very surprised. But, despite the fact that he continued to shell out his big money for various needs of the Junta, no one was able to love him again.

It turned out that this guy loved boxing. He even took part in boxing fights, and always won, because although he was skinny, he was still strong and very hot-tempered. And therefore, with such a character, he always had the strength to hit as hard as he could. He had already been offered to be a boxer, but Felipe was only interested in the revolution. That's where he got his money from boxing.

Picture or drawing of a Mexican

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Jack London - known to our public, he is known as the author of adventure novels and stories. As children, many of us probably read his works about animals: “White Fang”, “Brown Wolf” and others. Few of us know that this author was once active public figure who passionately hate the bourgeoisie. He reflected his civic position in the story “The Mexican.” Thus, the ardent socialist tried to awaken the revolutionary spirit among the masses of workers. In this article I want to tell you about this story. So, Jack London, "The Mexican", a summary of the work.

Meet Felipe Rivera

Felipe Rivera is an ardent revolutionary who recently joined the Junta group. He was distinguished from other members of this organization, whose main activity was preparing the revolution, by his very gloomy appearance and difficult character. Mexican blood flowed in his veins. The Junta did not like him.
Companions understood that Felipe's life was like hell. Perhaps this left its mark on his character. But they still couldn’t love him. No one knew where he slept, where or what he ate. No one had the desire to crawl into his soul and ask about his life. This is how Jack London described the main character. “The Mexican,” a summary of which is given in this article, is a story about courage and patriotism.

Felipe's first task

Soon Felipe was entrusted with the first very important task. Members of the group found out that they had an enemy - Juan Alvarado. He commanded the federal troops. Because of him, the Junta lost contact with its like-minded people in California. After Felipe returned from his mission, important contacts with the Californian revolutionaries were restored, and Juan Alvarado was found with a knife in his chest in his bed. After the success of the first assignment, our hero’s comrades began to be afraid of him. It sometimes happened that he returned from another mission so beaten that he did not have the strength to get out of bed the next day. Describing all these facts, Jack London characterizes the main character in the best possible way. "The Mexican", the contents of which are given here, was published in large numbers and won the hearts and minds of millions of people.

The junta needs money

To carry out its activities, the Junta constantly needed funds. Felipe helped the group with his money as best he could. He once paid as much as sixty gold dollars to rent premises for the organization. But this was negligible. The moment came when there were only a few days left before the Mexican revolution, everything was ready for this, but there was no money to purchase weapons in sufficient quantities. And our hero decides to take a desperate step - a boxing match with the famous and experienced athlete Danny Ward for money. How does Jack London describe the events further? "The Mexican", a brief summary of which is unlikely to be able to convey the fullness of the contradictory sentiments of that time, is not just a story about the fate individual person, but a story about the life of an entire people in a certain period of time.

Felipe and Danny fight

For this match, Felipe was offered a good amount - more than one thousand dollars. None of the public knew the newly minted boxer, so everyone bet on Danny. Almost no one bet on Rivera. But this only inflamed our hero. He was confident of his victory. Although he understood that it would not be easy for him to get it. Danny met his opponent with a barrage of powerful blows. The audience roared and demanded blood. But suddenly Felipe knocked out his opponent. Everyone was against the hero, no one wanted to lose their money. Even the judge counted down Danny's minutes so slowly that he found the strength to get up and continue the fight.

Victory for Felipe

The fight lasted for several long rounds. At the tenth stage, Felipe demonstrated his signature move to his opponent, putting him in the ring three times. The show owner and trainer began to persuade our hero to give up. But this was not in Felipe's character. The revolution needed funds, and that was all he thought about. Danny went on a rampage. He could not admit that he, the famous champion, could be defeated by some unknown Mexican. In the seventeenth round, Rivera feigned exhaustion. Danny underestimated his opponent and was soon knocked out, now final. Jack London ended his story "The Mexican" with this moment.

This story can be called outstanding in the writer’s work. It evokes a feeling of patriotism and a desire to be as strong and strong-willed as main character. There is a feeling that these feelings are familiar firsthand to such an author as Jack London. “The Mexican,” a summary of which is given in this article, I advise you to read in full.

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