Moon-Face

Moon-Face

"Moon-Face" is a short story by Jack London, first published in 1902. It explores the subject of extreme antipathy.

Plot summary

The story follows the un-named protagonist and his irrational hatred of John Claverhouse, a man with a "moon-face". The protagonist clearly states that his hatred of him is irrational, saying: "Why do we not like him? Ah, we do not know why; we know only that we do not. We have taken a dislike, that is all. And so I with John Claverhouse." The protagonist becomes obsessed with Claverhouse, hating his face, his laugh, his entire life. The protagonist observes that Claverhouse engages in illegal fishing with dynamite and hatches a scheme to kill Claverhouse.

The protagonist teaches a dog, Bellona, to do one thing and one thing only, retrieval, with emphasis on water retrieving and taking the stick back to the thrower no matter where they were. Claverhouse is presented with Bellona before his upcoming trout fishing trip. The protagonist observes from a distance with glee as Claverhouse lights a stick of dynamite and throws it into the water. Bellona, trained to retrieve, fetches the explosive. Claverhouse runs from the dog in futility until "just as she caught up, he in full stride, and she leaping with nose at his knee, there was a sudden flash, a burst of smoke, a terrific detonation, and where man and dog had been the instant before there was naught to be seen but a big hole in the ground."

The death is ruled an accident while engaged in illegal fishing. The protagonist takes pride in killing Claverhouse with no mess or brutality and lives in peace.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Moon face — Moon Moon (m[=oo]n), n. [OE. mone, AS. m[=o]na; akin to D. maan, OS. & OHG. m[=a]no, G. mond, Icel. m[=a]ni, Dan. maane, Sw. m[*a]ne, Goth. m[=e]na, Lith. men[*u], L. mensis month, Gr. mh nh moon, mh n month, Skr. m[=a]s moon, month; prob. from a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • moon|face — «MOON FAYS», noun. 1. a round, moonlike face: »As he neared the top, he turned his happy moonface (Time). 2. an abnormal obesity of the face caused by various diseases …   Useful english dictionary

  • Moon face — For other uses, see moonface (disambiguation). Moon face Classification and external resources DiseasesDB 30817 MedlinePlus 003105 …   Wikipedia

  • moon face — moon shaped face moon facies …   Medical dictionary

  • moon-face — noun a swollen and rounded face, often indicative of a disease (Cushings syndrome) or of a steroid side effect …   Wiktionary

  • moon face — the classical facial appearance of a patient with Cushing s syndrome. The face is rounded and free of wrinkles, and the hair is often thin …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • Face Dances — Studio album by The Who Released 16 March 1981 …   Wikipedia

  • Moon — (m[=oo]n), n. [OE. mone, AS. m[=o]na; akin to D. maan, OS. & OHG. m[=a]no, G. mond, Icel. m[=a]ni, Dan. maane, Sw. m[*a]ne, Goth. m[=e]na, Lith. men[*u], L. mensis month, Gr. mh nh moon, mh n month, Skr. m[=a]s moon, month; prob. from a root… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Moon blindness — Moon Moon (m[=oo]n), n. [OE. mone, AS. m[=o]na; akin to D. maan, OS. & OHG. m[=a]no, G. mond, Icel. m[=a]ni, Dan. maane, Sw. m[*a]ne, Goth. m[=e]na, Lith. men[*u], L. mensis month, Gr. mh nh moon, mh n month, Skr. m[=a]s moon, month; prob. from a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Moon dial — Moon Moon (m[=oo]n), n. [OE. mone, AS. m[=o]na; akin to D. maan, OS. & OHG. m[=a]no, G. mond, Icel. m[=a]ni, Dan. maane, Sw. m[*a]ne, Goth. m[=e]na, Lith. men[*u], L. mensis month, Gr. mh nh moon, mh n month, Skr. m[=a]s moon, month; prob. from a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”