A Wicked Woman

A wicked woman is a story about an unsullied, innocent, ingenuous and delicate young woman who broke Billy, a young boy with whom she had had a relationship and had broken his heart. The sadness provoked by the breaking was the reason why Captain Kitt, her sister’s husband sent her on a visit to Santa Clara. There, she lived with the Hemingways, who introduced her to Ned Bashford, a man who did not belive in the truth and purity of women, and that finally falls in love with Loretta.

As the weeks pass Loretta becomes a small centre of things, not just a pale orb around her sister; she receives letters from Billy though she almost doesn’t care about him anymore until one morning she receives a letter that put tragedy into her face. Billy made reproaches to Loretta saying that when a women allowed a man kiss her, she always married him, that it was terrible if she didn’t , and Loretta is convinced that she ought to marry Billy.

LORETTA, a sweet, innocent, frightfully, ingenous and delicate young. She was about nineteen years old. She was a figure of womanhood. She has blue eyes.

DAISY, Loretta’s sister. Loretta described her with a brilliant and nature personality.

CAPTAIN KITT, Daisy’s husband, he only wants Loretta to help her wife with the household.

EDWARD “NED” BASHFORD, a man of the world, who has philosophised his experiences and who doesn’t believe in the veracity or purity of women. He confuses superficiality with profundity.

BILLY MARSH, a raw boy who is just about as innocent as Loretta. ALICE HEMINGWAY, a society woman with a lonely heart and

imaginative mind. JACK HEMINGWAY, Alice Hemingway’s husband. He pets Loretta on the

time she lives with them.

A wicked woman takes place in the Hemingway’s house located in Santa Clara’s town in California. There, Loretta who was a shy and innocent young woman who always lived depending on her sister Daisy and grew up in an environment where she was inhibited and where was not taken into account, becomes the small centre of attention; she was petted by Jack Hemingway, spoiled by Alice Hemingway, and devotedly attended by Ned Bashford. She swiftly developed her personality and discovered her own wishes.

Father: William Chaney, astrologer, never accepted him as a son.

Mother: Flora Wellman, spiritualist

Step-father: John London, a poor farmer from whom Jack took his last name.

First wife: Bess Maddern, his math tutor.

Second wife: Charmiand.

Born in San Francisco on January 12, 1876

Quit school at age 15 to work full-time in a salmon cannery. He was an avid reader, educating himself at public libraries,

especially the Oakland public Library.

Jacks’s extensive life experiences included: being a laborer, factory worker, sailor, member of the California Fish Patrol and railroad hobo.

In his teens, he joined Coxey’s Army in its famous march on Washington.

During his travels, he became acquainted with socialism. He was called “ Boy socialist of Oakland.

In 1900, Jack married his math tutor and friend, Bess Maddern. They had two daughters.

In 1907, Jack married Charmian, his second wife. He died of renal failure on November 22, 1916.

Influence on his writings:

His works exemplifies traditionals American values.

London wrote from a socialist viewpoint .

Jack London got the materials of his books from his own adventures.

His philosophy was a product of his own experiences. This philosophy is reflected in one of the main characters of “a wicked women”, Ned Bashford.

A wicked women story reflects the traditionals standars of a century ago.

The plot of this story can sound ridiculous by modern standards; even so, while it is virtually impossible to imagine, Loretta's moronic naivete may have been believable to readers in 1906.

A Wicked Woman

Enrique Molina

Julissa García

IX Semester

Foreign Languages