Jack London's short stories are divided into the "Northern Frontier" and "South China Sea" series, representing different stages of his creative career. The 'South Sea' series reflects London's criticism of colonialism in the South Pacific and sympathy for indigenous peoples, which contrasts with his early racial beliefs. The racial conflicts in London are both sympathetic to the lower classes and influenced by white supremacy. His worldview was influenced by Marx, Darwin, Nietzsche, and Spencer, but his ideological systems were not consistent. London's experience of sailing in the South Pacific and health issues affected his sympathy for the indigenous people, as reflected in his collection of stories from the South China Sea.

1、 Snake Shark and Health Issues

After the success of "Call of the Wild," Jack London planned a circumnavigation of the world, embodying his adventurous spirit and "American mandate. His works showcase the pioneering spirit of the American nation, echoing the imperialist expansion of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States. London's South Sea novels not only acknowledge America's overseas expansion, but also express sympathy for the indigenous people suffering from illness. In 1906, the yacht "Snake Shark" was built in London, and began sailing in the Pacific in 1907, but had to be interrupted due to health issues. The voyage of the Snake Shark and the collection of stories from the South China Sea documented this voyage and exposed the impact of colonialism on the local area. During the voyage, London and the crew were infected with yaws and malaria, and experienced the torment of the disease. This experience gave London a new understanding of the situation of tropical island residents, and his thinking changed, showing more sympathy towards the indigenous people. This voyage was not only London's practice of the spirit of "westward expansion", but also a manifestation of American imperial consciousness, but the reality of illness and death made him rethink race and social Darwinism.

2、 Isolation and anti isolation

The leprosy patient Gu Lao in the South China Sea Story Collection portrays the hardships and struggles of the local people in Hawaii under colonial rule through the story of the protagonist Gu Lao. Gu Lao and his companions were forced to quarantine by white colonizers due to leprosy. They chose to return to Kauai Island and clashed with the colonizers. White colonizers used plantation economy as a means to plunder land and enslave locals, leading to the spread of leprosy on the island. The leprosy patient group led by Gu Lao became self-sufficient in the valley and resisted the colonial policy of imprisonment. Their images were depicted by Jack London with sympathetic strokes, depicting the tragic situation of physical disability and mental distortion. Before his death, Gu Lao still refused to accept the identity of a leprosy patient. His declaration of freedom and accusations against colonizers reflect a profound criticism of colonialism and imperialism. Jack London reveals through the image of Gu Lao the destruction of indigenous land and life by colonizers, as well as the indomitable spirit of struggle of the local people.

3、 Exile and Fear

In 'Goodbye Jack', Jack London depicts the poetic life of Hawaii Island and the natural beauty of its residents. However, with the arrival of American missionaries, life in Hawaii changed. Missionaries initially humbly claimed to educate the indigenous people, but over time, they encroached on land and resources, and their status gradually rose. London exposed the true face of missionaries, comparing them to greedy uncivilized people. The expansion of the United States in the Pacific included Hawaii, which was the first true colony of the United States and later became its 50th state. Jack Kersdale is a descendant of the powerful class in Hawaii, owning a large amount of wealth and being the object of admiration for local women. He was brave and popular, but later plagued by fear of leprosy. In the novel, Jack's lover Lucy is infected with leprosy and they bid a tragic farewell on the dock. Lucy is a Polynesian beauty known for her beautiful singing, but unfortunately she contracted leprosy. Jack had previously supported the establishment of a restricted area on Moro Island to isolate leprosy patients, but when Lucy was sent to the quarantine area, he realized that he could also be infected. Leprosy not only causes physical harm to patients, but also social discrimination. Jack's panic reflects the symbolic significance of leprosy in Western culture, which is seen as a symbol of social corruption and Orientalist bias.

4、 Conclusion

London's experience in the South Pacific had an impact on his creative style, and his later works showed sympathy towards the residents of the South China Sea islands, especially leprosy patients. He exposed the suffering of abandoned children in society by meticulously depicting the tragic situation of leprosy and leprosy patients. This sympathy transcends racial prejudice and is related to his experience of contracting a disease during his Pacific voyage, leading him to break away from social Darwinism and the philosophy of 'Superman'. In the South China Sea story, London condemns the destruction of local people's lives by colonialism, and its depiction of illness deeply exposes the crimes of Western imperialism.