Jason's Gold

The novel shows in several ways how greed can promote cruelty and destruction. Jason witnesses repeatedly the impact of greedy stampeders and profiteers on other people, animals, and the environment. Though Jason is also intent on finding wealth in the Klondike, his values stand out in clear juxtaposition alongside those whose greed defies compassion and decency. The novel suggests that human greed and self-serving purposes cause some on the quest for wealth to exploit individuals, groups, and resources in ways that are unethical and destructive.

For example, on the steamer journey to Alaska, Jason encounters con artist “Soapy” Smith and his employee, Kid Barker. True to history, the character of “Captain” Smith goes north not intending to find the goldfields but intent on swindling stampeders arriving in the boomtowns. Hobbs positions many of these stampeders as unsuspecting explorers in an unfamiliar place, pointing out how easy it is to take advantage of their distraction. When Jason recognizes that Smith and Kid are criminals who want him to join them in conning and exploiting stampeders, he refuses, citing his honor.

Jason also observes how others take for granted the Indigenous Tlingit people’s knowledge of the land and waterways. Joining Jack London briefly on the way out of Juneau, Jason benefits from the Tlingit people’s skills and confidence as they maneuver around the clumsy, inefficient steamers and make progress up the river. Jason also sees how stampeders take advantage of the Indigenous packers who are more skilled at navigating the mountain passes. Later, Jason hears from Charlie how Robert Henderson denied Indigenous stampeders any right to his information about the location of the gold claims. These situations represent ways in which greedy newcomers exploit Indigenous individuals in the text.

Additionally, Jason’s heart goes out to pack animals, especially horses, exploited in man’s eager quest for riches. He expresses concern for the animals crowded in the hold on the Yakima, then is horrified to see them struggling and dying on White Pass. His shame in observing man’s cruel treatment of the animals is too much to bear as he descends the trail: “Jason could stand no more. He’d seen too much cruelty, had played his part in it” (58). Jason rescues King at this moment, sickened by the exploitation of so many living creatures in the name of the quest.

Finally, the land itself is exploited at the hands of those stampeding for riches. The heavy foot traffic changes the mountain passes; they are polluted and clogged. Men destroy trees to take the timber for boat building without regard for the habitat or ecosystem. Stampeders divide the Klondike’s land and waterways into sections, claiming any riches for themselves. Through these and other examples, the novel points out the exploitative and destructive nature of greed.