Journal for "South of the Slot"

As we move into a naturalist background the reading for today is "South of the Slot" by Jack London.
This story is a strange and interesting one indeed. The main character can be said to have a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde complex as he wrestles with the beast that is within himself. Taking from his naturalistic roots, London does eventually have the wild and natural man win out in the end even though he can be said to be the created persona.
This story offers up great philosophical ideas such as whether or not a man can create a second persona that becomes so real and so much a part of him/herself that they can no longer control it. The story shows the naturalistic love for wilderness and freedom and its contempt for the mundane and humdrum lives of controlled people within society. I think this story creates a great debate about what is more real and better: a wild persona or a controlled one.