Abstract :
Jack London's 'Sea-Wolf' dramatizes the historical conflict between sailing vessels and steamships. Wolf Larsen's schooner Ghost is pitted against the steamship Macedonia captained by Larsen's brother Death. This contest appears to be a minor part of the narrative but it suggests the novel's deeper themes. Although the conflict between Wolf's Social Darwinism and Humphrey Van Weyden's idealism appears to be a primary concern, the novel suggests that both are being eclipsed by the coming steam age with its emphasis on rational thought and mechanical ability.