Literature of Protest: Jack London’s the Iron Heel, a Satirical Perspective

Abstract

Although literature of protest does not directly lead to social change, it can permanently change society during an awakening, a period of cultural revitalization that occurs during times of social stress and confusion. Because there have been so few awakenings, literature of protest has little effect on moving people in a certain direction. Though many protests have failed, many have also prevailed and led to great social change, Jack London's utopian satire, The Iron Heel, mainly intended to manifest London's contemporary Oligarchy, has been one of such works.This article sheds light upon such a literature that has led to these changes through satirical comments made by the American novelist, Jack London, in his utopian satire, the Iron Heel.