John Barleycorn (novel)

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John Barleycorn is an autobiographical novel by Jack London dealing with his struggles with alcoholism. It was published in 1913. The title is taken from the British folksong "John Barleycorn".

1 Themes
2 The Role of Alcohol
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Themes

In this memoir, there is the theme of masculinity and male comradeship. Those themes are especially evident in one scene of the memoir where the men are at a pub. Jack London goes to the pub with his acquaintance, Nelson, who is well known around the town as being the prime definition of masculinity. Jack goes to the pub to drink with Nelson because he wants to prove his masculinity to his other manly man. Jack London also wants to become friends with Nelson because this will also prove his masculinity. The theme of friendship is shown through them buying each other drinks which connects to alcohol.

[edit] The Role of Alcohol

Alcoholic beverages play a big role in facilitating the themes listed above. To prove ones masculinity, one feels the need to drink more to show only a “manly man” can drink that much. Also, alcohol appears to be the basis of John and Nelson’s friendship. They are only shown as friends as they share a beer at the pub. While at the bad, Nelson buys John Barleycorn several rounds of drinks. Then, after six drinks John Barleycorn decides to make an appearance in the place of Jack. John Barleycorn is Jack London's alter-ego and he only appears to come out when Jack London is feeling drunk. Therefore, John feels he has to pay Nelson back when in actuality he does not have the money to do so. By having John Barleycorn buying Nelson drinks, it in a way emphasizes his masculine image because it gives off the image that he has enough money to buy all the drinks because he has a high-paying successful career, when he really does not have the high-paying career. John Barleycorn stated, “Money no longer counted. It was comradeship that counted” (p50).¹ However, in another way, it also de-masculinizes John because he is in a way buying his friendship with Nelson through the drinks. The role of alcohol is very prevalent in this memoir because Jack London is the sober version of himself and John Barleycorn is the version of Jack London that leaks drunkenness everywhere.