The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii

** "The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii" by Jack London is a collection of stories that unfolds in early 1900s Hawaii, portraying the lives of people navigating questions of who they are, where they belong in society, and how colonial rule changes things. Readers discover characters struggling with what they want versus what is expected of them, and they also see how the characters' ties to Hawaii and to their families pull them in different directions. The first story begins with Percival Ford, a rich man who considers himself better than others because of his beliefs. He goes to a party for soldiers heading to Alaska but feels like he doesn’t fit in with the happy-go-lucky officers and their wives. Percival’s thoughts reveal a strict childhood under his well-known father, Isaac Ford, and the story highlights his doubts and beliefs. The relationship with his half-brother, Joe Garland, who lives the kind of easy life Percival dislikes, becomes a key piece in the story, setting the stage for looking closely at family connections, identity, and the roles people play in society. **