# XVI: The End explained — The Iron Heel

> Chapter companion for The Iron Heel by Jack London.

## What happens

Avis describes the slow, perilous work of the underground revolutionary organization, including the Fighting Groups and the secret war against the Oligarchy. She recounts her father's embrace of proletarian life and his encounter with Mr. Wickson. Avis and Ernest go to Washington as socialist Congressmen, but the Oligarchy provokes the Peasant Revolt through agents-provocateurs, leading to violent suppression and bloodshed across the Granger states.

## Themes in this chapter

### Revolution and Personal Sacrifice

The Fighting Groups embody self-sacrifice, with an average life expectancy of five years; comrades willingly face torture and death for the Cause.

### Ideology, Propaganda, and the Control of Thought

The Revolution takes on a religious character, with devotion to the Cause and the use of secret agents and counter-agents to control information.

### Corruption of Institutions (Church, State, Labor)

The courts and military are used by the Oligarchy to suppress the Grangers and farmers, and the militia law forces workers to kill their comrades.

### The Dehumanizing Nature of Capitalism

The Oligarchy offers money and leisure to betray the Cause, while the faithful face only peril and death, highlighting the dehumanizing trade-offs of the system.

## Character check-ins

### Avis Everhard

Narrates the chapter, describing the underground revolutionary work and her journey to Washington with Ernest.

### Ernest Everhard

Calculates the average life of Fighting Group members; goes to Washington as a socialist Congressman; works to prevent violence among Grangers.

### John Cunningham

Avis's father, who embraces proletarian life, works odd jobs, and encounters Mr. Wickson while closing a cab.

### Philip Wickson

Encountered by John Cunningham; offers help but is rebuffed when asked to return Cunningham's home and stock.

### Mr. Asmunsen

Drafted into the militia against the farmers, refuses to serve, and is executed by drumhead court martial.

### Mr. Kowalt

Drafted into the militia against the farmers, refuses to serve, and is executed by drumhead court martial.

## Key lines

> The average life of a man or woman after becoming a member was five years.

Fighting Group members typically survived only five years after joining.

_Highlights the extreme sacrifice required of revolutionaries._

> We mined the organization of the Iron Heel with our secret agents, and the Iron Heel countermined with its secret agents inside its own organization.

Both sides infiltrated each other's organizations with spies.

_Describes the mutual espionage of the underground war._

> The Revolution took on largely the character of religion. We worshipped at the shrine of the Revolution, which was the shrine of liberty.

The revolutionary cause became a quasi-religious devotion to liberty.

_Shows the ideological fervor of the movement._

> When it comes to powder, chemical mixtures are better than mechanical mixtures, you take my word.

Ernest warns that violent conflict (chemical mixtures) is more effective than political compromise (mechanical mixtures).

_Foreshadows the coming violent revolt._

> Eleven thousand men, women, and children were shot down on the streets of Sacramento or murdered in their houses.

The military killed 11,000 civilians in Sacramento during the suppression.

_Illustrates the brutal repression of the Peasant Revolt._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xvi-the-end
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iron_heel_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters