Analysis Of Jack London's The Call Of The Wild

The Call of the Wild, on the surface, is a story about Buck, a four- year old dog that is part Shepherd and part St. Bernard. More importantly, it is a naturalistic tale about the survival of the fittest in nature. Throughout the novel, Buck proves that he is fit and can endure the law of the club, the law of the fang, and the laws of nature.

Buck was a dog that killed another dog. Walt Masters was a Yukon boy that stood up against injustice. Aengus was searching for a glimmering girl, but never found her. In all of these stories, the characters are searching for something or to find something within. It the following text I’ll tell you to have these very different stories have characters going on similar missions.

Jack London brings a natural instinct into the spotlight by defining that everyone has that primal call to the wild, and often one feels this when in a difficult situation. Giving into this ‘call of the wild’ leads to a different kind of adaptation, it makes you become primal to survive in a primal situation. Further into the book it states, “The others sat down and howled. And now the call came to Buck in unmistakable accents. He, too, sad down and howled.” (London, 1990, p.62). This is the defining moment of Jack’s book when Buck lets go of all ties to humans and decides to carve his own path, adapting the way he needs to, not the way that humans encouraged him. Soon, Buck changes himself completely to fit snugly into the environment and to prevent further torturous struggles with humans. These quotes combine to paint a picture of total and complete change when it comes to a new and unfavorable environment.

This year’s summer reading options were marvelous. It was a hard choice to choose what book to read, but in the end, I chose The Call of the Wild by Jack London. The Call of the Wild was an adventurous tale about a dog named Buck and his adventures as he was sold into a harsh life of relentless labor in the cold and brutal North. The author of this classic novel, Jack London, was a short-story writer and a prolific American novelist. He was born in San Francisco, California. He was known for his other novels, The Sea Wolf and White Fang. I chose this particular novel because I love reading classic novels and it seemed to be an interesting and exciting story. Finally, this was the novel of my choice because it was recommended to me by my grandma.

Manuel kidnaps Buck and sells him to pay off a debt. Buck’s trustworthy nature changes as soon as he is beaten and is not fed or allowed to drink water. When Buck arrives in Seattle he is almost beaten to death by the man in the red sweater. "He saw, once for all, that he stood no chance against a man with a club." (Call of the Wild, page 19). Buck learns from this horrible incident the ‘law of the club.’ The law of the club states that a dog is no match for a man with a weapon. Buck witnesses as his newly-made friend named Curly is torn to pieces by thirty or forty huskies after she falls to the ground from fighting. Buck is taught the ‘law of the fang’ from Curly’s death scene. The law of the fang recognizes the fact that once a dog falls to the ground he is dead. In the north, Buck learns many traits that will help him journey through the north in order to survive. Buck learns that he has to eat his food quickly in order to not have it stolen; he learns to steal food to survive, because the daily ration cannot fill his stomach; he learns to break the ice out from his toes; and finally Buck learns that in order to stay warm during the harsh, freezing nights, he has to make a ‘nest’ to sleep in. Because Buck learns these new secrets of the sled dogs, he is able to survive in the north and to maintain his

His name was John Thornton. Buck followed Thornton around everywhere. He would never leave him. Although one day there was a call from the wild and Buck answered it. “But in spite of this great love he bore John Thornton, which seemed to bespeak the soft, civilizing influences; the strain of the primitive, which the Northland had aroused in him, remained alive and active” (London 76). Buck went off and discovered a wolf pack that would take him in. This quote proves that Buck became wild. When John Thornton died, Buck was his own owner and he no longer had to follow Thornton around. He joined a wolf pack and was happy and

The Call of the Wild, written by Jack London, depicts a dog named Buck being forced into the wild and adapting in order to survive. At first, Buck was more domestic than primitive, but as time passed, Buck was beginning to become one with his primitive side. The Call of the Wild shows that nature will ultimately rule over civilization because Buck had to adapt in order to survive, the call was too strong, and so Buck’s natural, primitive side was overpowering his civilized side, and it was Buck’s fate to join the wild.

At the beginning of Buck’s journey he is cared for and well nurtured. At the start, Buck gets kidnapped, and he is set in a completely new environment. This new world has wild dogs, mean people, and minimal room for mistakes. Buck is forced to make a conversion otherwise he’ll die. “All the stirring of old instincts which at stated periods drives men out from the sounding cities to forest to plain to kill things.” Buck awakens his instincts to survive in this unforgiving place, he kills to survive, to have fun, and to feel free.

In the Call of the Wild Buck transformed from a domesticated dog to a wild dog who hunts and howls with the lone wolf or his “wild brother.” His important transformation wouldn’t of happened if it weren’t for, Judge Miller’s home, the Yukon living with Perrault and Francois, then to living with John Thornton and running wild. The message of the novel is how don’t be afraid of change and to never to be follower be a leader. When Buck killed Spitz he was not expecting anything less than that leadership spot. Buck was born a leader and that he shall

The most obvious and important change in Buck’s life is when he is stolen from his house. In a way, when Buck is captured, he starts an entirely new life. His new life living wild is one that is polar opposite to his past life. “Chapter I, ‘Into the Primitive,’ describes the great dog’s kidnapping from Judge Miller’s pastoral ranch and his subsequent endurance of the first rites of his initiation—the beginning of the transformation that ultimately carries him deep into Nature’s heart of darkness” (Labor 119). Buck goes from a beautiful, massive house where he lived an entertaining life with his first family to surviving in the cold, vast wilderness while knowing absolutely no one. While living on the beautiful property, he was really close

Throughout Call of the Wild, Buck’s life changes drastically. Buck began his life as a simple farm dog. He ruled the plantation, and everything on it was in his command until he is dognapped and sent to a new challenging environment. When he was transported to the North, he quickly learned that he had to fight to be the dominant dog. Throughout his life he meets many people, yet each person’s relationship with him is extremely different. Buck is first the judge’s dog, then he becomes Francois’s and Perrault’s sled dog member, and the last person he is owned by is John Thornton.

After he is stripped away from civilization, he must adapt to his new surroundings. The theme of this novel is the concept, "survival of the fittest." In the wilderness, Buck quickly learns that without strength or the will to fight, it is impossible to survive. This quote shows that Buck has killed an Indian, and he immediately realizes that he has killed a higher being. This quote is significant to the theme, because it shows that due to the concept, "survival of the fittest," Buck was able to survive because of his superior strength. Buck was able walk away from the fight because the Indians were no match for his physicality. Throughout the novel, Buck's strength and leadership is what keeps him at the top of his

Buck involuntarily realizes his natural instinct and ancestry, and understands his true nature. "The snow walls pressed him on every side, and a great surge of fear swept through him--the fear of the wild thing for the trap. It was a token that he was harking back through his own life to the lives of his forebears; for he was a civilized dog, an unduly civilized dog, and of his own experience knew no trap and so could not of himself fear it. The muscles of his whole body contracted spasmodically and instinctively." Buck feels things not from his life, a testament to his true belonging of natural instinct regardless of his upbringing in his current life.

In the beginning of Chapter 1, Buck was described as a house dog. His father was St. Bernard and his mother a Scotch shepherd dog. He loved to swim and hunt, and was comfortable indoor as out. Based on the description, I think that Buck will have a hard time at first because he is still wondering where he is and why he isn't with his owner (Judge Miller). He would have to adapt to his new habitat and environment since he was from Santa Clarita Valley, California. He is now on his own there is no one to keep him companied and entertained. He was in a safe and fun environment and someone that could have been trustworthy took advantage of him.

The Call of the Wild is a book written by Jack London about Buck. Buck is a St. Bernard who fights his wild side to live by the law of club and fang to survive and stay out of trouble. Throughout his journey, he battles the call to be free. He has owner problems, but eventually finds an owner who cares for him as a family member. Buck, a domesticated dog, is transformed through his journey to live out his days as a free alpha male.