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The South of the Slot is a short story by American naturalist writer Jack London (1876–1916). It was first published in ''The Saturday Evening Post'', Vol. 181, May, 1909.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title= South of the Slot )〕 In 1914, it was published by Macmillan in a collection of Jack London’s stories, ''The Strength of the Strong''.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title= The Strength of the Strong )〕 The title of the story refers to a location in San Francisco, which real estate speculators now call SOMA, the South of Market. The name describes the cable cars that ran up and down the Market along the slots through which they gripped cables.While the cable cars have long since disappeared from Market Street, some "old timers" still refer to this area as "South of the Slot."〔(【引用サイトリンク】title= South of Market Area )〕 == Plot summary == Freddie Drummond is a sociology professor at Berkeley leading a rather dull life. He has no friends; he’s very reserved and stiff. He is also engaged to a very wealthy woman who comes from an aristocratic family, Catherine Van Vorst. However, he is fascinated with the south part of San Francisco and starts working there. By impersonating a working person he examines the “south of the slot” to gain better understanding of the area. Over time, Freddie Drummond develops an alter ego, Big Bill Totts, who becomes more and more involved in the working life and labor organizing in the district. While making his ventures to the south, he meets the President of the International Glove Workers’ Union, Mary Condon. Freddie/Bill realizes that he cannot maintain his dual life and hopes to achieve happiness by Catherine Van Vorst’s side. The story’s climax comes as Freddie and Catherine, quite accidentally it seems, run into a strike in the middle of Market Street. Here, we can observe Freddie’s moment of decision that takes places precisely between his two worlds. When recognized as Big Bill Totts, Freddie quickly morphs into Big Bill and joins the labor unrest leaving Catherine Van Vorst forever. In the end, Freddie/Bill had been correct. He could not maintain this dual existence. What he did not realize was which side of his personality would eventually win out and which would be discarded.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The South of the Slot」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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