Analysis Of The Call Of The Wild

In schools and counties all over, the book The Call of the Wild is being banned from 8th grade curriculum. For reasons such as that the book is based on true events, that the book describes actions of animal abuse that still occur today, and that banning books causes illiteracy and it caused by illiteracy, I do not believe that The Call of the Wild should be taken out of 8th grade curriculum.

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.

The call of the wild is about a dog named buck hat goes through many owners and then goes to the wild and joins a wolf pack. The central idea in The Call of The Wild is the way you treat animals can tell about you and your personality.

     The Call of the Wild, by Jack London, is a classic piece of American literature. The novel follows the life of a dog named Buck as his world changes and in turn forces him to become an entirely new dog. Cruel circumstances require Buck to lose his carefree attitude and somewhat peaceful outlook on life. Love then enters his life and causes him to see life through new eyes. In the end, however, he must choose between the master he loves or the wildness he belongs in.

After John Thornton dies and Buck’s only tie to humanity and civilization is severed, Buck proceeds to live out his days in a local wolf pack where he becomes the alpha. Here he becomes a legend to the locals and is forevermore known as the Ghost Dog because of ferocious actions presiding Thornton’s death. Throughout the novel, “The Call of the Wild” it is proven that adaptability is key to one’s survival in any harsh environment. Over the many years in Buck’s time after being kidnapped by Manuel, Buck demonstrated time and time again that being able to adapt to one’s surroundings is and essential to life. In the novel, it is conveyed through many different events and lessons that being able to become accustomed to a setting is key to

Soon after his arrival, Buck was able to quickly experience the power of the primitive state while he was with Francois and Perrault in the Yukon. Francois and Perrault worked for the Canadian Government and used Buck as a sled dog. One day while Buck was lying by the fire after a long day out on the trail, he was daydreaming about a man from the past. The man was a very hairy man, crouched down by the fire. “And dreaming there by the Yukon bank, with lazy eyes blinking at the fire, these sounds and sights of another world would make the hair to rise along his back and stand on end across his shoulders and up his neck.”(London 50)

Here is one piece of evidence to support this claim. “And when, on the still, cold nights, he pointed his nose at a star and howled long and wolf like, it was his ancestors, dead and dust, pointing nose at star and howling down through the centuries and through him (London 26).” This quote explains the call that Buck is answering and showing how strong his instincts are. It also shows how wolf like Buck really is and how he is being called by his ancestors to come and be with them and run with them. In the book Buck does meet a wolf and Buck does run with him, but shortly realizes he needs to return to Thornton.

In his novel, The Call of the Wild, Jack London wants us to see the step beyond the survival of the fittest to the complete adaptation to and domination of a once unfamiliar and unforgiving environment. Using a third-person, limited omniscient narrator, the cold, icy Yukon wilderness, and a journey from lazy farm life to the deadly work of a sled dog, we see Buck, a Saint Bernard/Scotch Shepherd mix slowly return to his ancestral roots. As Jacqueline Tavernier-Courbin states in her book The Call of the Wild: A Naturalistic Romance, “The book deals less with the concept of evolution than with that of devolution” (Courbin pg 57). London asks us to believe that happily domesticated farm dog, Buck, can not only survive life as a sled dog in the Yukon, but can become completely in tune with his primitive inner self, and ultimately thrive as a leader of a wolf pack.

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.

One example which supports the thesis was when he stole food from the other dogs. In the story the owners did not give enough food to the dogs “He didn’t rob openly, but stole secretly and cunningly, out of respect for club and fang.”(23). The quote states Buck was learning to steal, in his happy days he just had to beg for food but now Buck was becoming more wild. This was the first time he was going to his predatory instincts of the ancient wolf and he was adapting to the problems he faces.

In the beginning of the book, Buck must adapt to the cold and cruelness of his new life in order to survive with very little food and recognition. First, Buck has to adapt to being transported to the North and learn to be a sled dog. For example, when he lived with the judge he slept wherever and whenever he wanted, but now that he is in the North he can only sleep under the snow and for few hours. Since, Buck learns that to live and carry on through his journey he has to make some changes from his old lifestyle. Second, Buck finds food for himself in order to survive and pull the sled longer. For instance, Buck steals food off of the man‘s plate because he is starving. Since, Buck can put his instincts into action, adapt and can be a good sled dog and stay alive. Last, Buck gets little recognition and learns to use his instincts and care for himself. For example, Buck gains confidence in himself to

In the classic, Call Of The Wild, by Jack London, Buck, a southland dog from California, is sold off to gold seekers during the Alaskan Gold Rush. He is thrust into the brutal and unforgiving life of a sled dog and is vilely treated. Buck then must adapt to the harsh life he has been placed into by learning to fight and survive in order to prosper. Years after he was drafted into the gold rush, he is rescued from his suffering by a man named John Thornton. While bonding with John, Buck is also growing closer to nature. When Buck was out exploring, John’s camp was attacked by indians, and he is killed. Buck then decides to return to the wild and live like his ancestors. The author is highly intentional of the diction used in

The quote is right after he was introduced to Skeet and Nig, John Thornton’s two dogs. “Skeet and Nig were too good-natured for quarreling besides, they belonged to John Thornton; but the strange dog, no matter what the breed or valor, swiftly acknowledged Buck’s supremacy or found himself struggling for life with a terrible antagonist.”(London, 76). Even though Buck was with an owner that loved and took care of his dogs, he still wanted to be the

In the story of the Call of the Wild there was this dog named Buck. He was a powerful and a civilized dog. He was with his owner named Judge Miller. Buck was living a good life. Until buck was kidnapped by a gardener. He has sold Buck to the dog traders to train Buck to be a sled dog. Buck was beaten and shipped north to the

What is the same and what is different about the “Call of the Wild” movie and book? Well for starters I didn’t see that much of the movie. I shall try my best though.