The Call of the Wild is a book that follows a dog named Buck throughout his journey from the soft and civilized world to the harsh Alaskan tundra. There are several events throughout the story which that illustrate Buck’s gradual decline from a civilized state of mind to a savage and primal mode of thinking (though Jack London seems to believe that the civilized state of mind is a decline from the primal state of mind ). Jack London makes the implication that Buck is a wild dog, but I would argue against that claim. I would argue that each step Buck takes towards a more wild state of existence, as described by London, is a product of men and that the wild creature known as Buck is but an artificial creation—a construction of men. You see, Buck was forged by the actions of men, be they cruel or kind. The fiery sting of the whip and the thunderous plow of the “club” coupled with the heavy chains of bondage are the true crafters of Buck’s personality traits (London Ch. 1 ). Nearly every aspect of Buck’s life is shaped by humans in one way or another. Eventually, Buck would learn to be as cruel as the humans that torment him, as cunning a thief as that the scoundrel Manuel, and as great a breaker of dogs as was the man with the red sweater who first introduced Buck to the “law of club and fang” (London Ch. 2). I would further argue that Buck is so lethal a creature—a destroyer of those that challenge him—and so capable of surviving in the Alaskan wasteland not because he has mastered the ways of the wild, but because he has mastered the ways of men.
In the beginning, London describes a looming danger to Buck, a reality that would eventually break down the noble Buck and reshape him into a more volatile, cunning, and respected creat...
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...itical Essays, and bibliography. Chicago: Nelson-Hall, 1980. Print.
Wilcox, Earl J. “Jack London’s Naturalism: The Example of The Call of the Wild.” The Call of the Wild by Jack London: A Casebook with Text, Background Sources, Reviews, Critical Essays, and bibliography. Chicago: Nelson-Hall, 1980. 178-192. Print.
Earl J. Wilcox seems to be defending Jack London's reputation as a naturalist writer from the "nature-faker" accusations of Theodore Roosevelt and others who accused London of being a non-naturalist writer. On page 190, Wilcox states "The naturalism that characterizes this novel is not consistently developed. But neither is the naturalism always of rigid pattern in, for example, Norris's romantic ending of McTeague.” By comparing London to other respected nature writers, Wilcox is implying that London is on equal standing with Norris, a notable naturalist.
Walcutt, C.C. American Literary Naturalism, A Divided Stream. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1952, p.66-82 Rpt in Crane, Stephen. The Red Badge of Courage. Sculley Bradley, Richard Beatty, and E. Hudson Long Eds. New York: W.W. Norton, 1962.
Perkins, George B., and Barbara Perkins. "The Beast in the Jungle." The American Tradition in Literature (concise). 12th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009. 1148-1177. Print.
The novel, The Call of the Wild, follows a four-year-old mixed Saint Bernard and Scottish shepherd, named Buck. In the beginning of the story, Buck lives in the home of Judge Miller, located at Santa Clara Valley, California. In Santa Clara, Buck lives a luxurious life. At the time of the story, gold is discovered in the North. With this discovery, the value of large dogs like Buck escalated dramatically. The dog’s value was due most to their ability to haul heavy sleds through the abundant snow. Unfortunately, Judge Miller’s servant, Manuel steals Buck to sell him to a band of dog-nappers to pay for his accumulating gambling debts. The ring of thieves that bought Buck is gaining a secure banking by trading the dog to northern executives. Buck, who has had an easy life so far, does not adapt well to the terrain as the other canines do. Buck does not easily tolerate the confinement and mistreatment of his new authority. Buck’s gains the misconception, which then is an aide that any man with a club is a dominator and must be obeyed.
The main theme of Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee is taking a
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.
Lee, never fooled anyone. He may have seemed strong in the beginning but he no substance under the shell. Such a false front can be compared to water behind an earthen dam. It may hold some water for a time but once the water finds a weak point, the whole structure comes crashing down along with the fury of all the water behind it. Within brady, the water represents the gooey inner core of his personality. Once he loses his composure in front of his once adoring audience the entire fluid of his persona comes crashing out. The only strength of Matthew Harrison Brady is his power in deliveringh his ideas. As in the earthen dam example, the townspeople represent the city protected from the water by the dam. Once the dam breaks, all the townspeople below get wet and are shaken to their foundations. Matthew Harrison Brady, without a doubt, deserves no sympathy. One example of Brady’s overly self-confidence would be "No…I believe we should welcome Henry Drummond." (Pg. 25). Ha! What a shock he is in for. His own "high and mighty" thinking is going to lead to his downfall. Even Brady is taken a tad aback by the news that Drummond will be joining the trial "Brady: (pale) Drummond?" (Pg. 25) While he basks in his loving audience of townspeople, he will yet be pulled down from his high throne to be questioned and scorned. While the town feels much stri...
William Henry Drummond is a renowned, successful, and acclaimed lawyer. A reaction to his name could be extremely varied, depending on whom you’d ask in the 1925 world. To the majority of the people in Hillsboro, for example, Drummond is perceived as a “vicious, godless man,” who will undoubtedly lose the trial to the beloved Matthew Harrison Brady. The results however, showed otherwise. Countless impressions of him are changed by the end of the trial. Drummond has many positive character traits which influenced his comportment in the “Monkey Trial”. He is a respectful, resourceful, and dignified man, and these traits prove to be accurate through the length of the trial.
Even if you think he is not, Jack London is a nature faker, still, due to former President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. When a famous political leader came in to hand, it becomes obvious and out of control. It is true that Jack London was just trying to construct a majestic fictional novel, but he still took it too far on the personification and anthropomorphism for 1903. For example, when The Call of the Wild was first released, many people read the book and had mixed thoughts of it. The readers who think it is unrealistic call London the nature faker, while the people who think it was 100% realistic do not call him the nature fakers. After reading, tons of people joined the nature faker’s controversy and said Jack London is a nature faker. Some of those people include public figures and even Theodore Roosevelt. Admittedly, Jack London is a nature faker at
As a student in Introduction to Literature I have had the opportunity to engage in reading and writing from the books listed: The Call of the Wild, Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s, and I know why the cage bird sings. These books have taught me that a message could be delivered in many perspectives. I have learned that a book is more than a story being told. It is up to the reader imagination to take then to that magical place. From these books I have choose to challenge myself to critic The Call of the wild by Jack London. It is an outstanding book that could be a positive feature for fifth grader to college students. The best thing about this book is that your view will change as you get older and wiser. For example I read this book in sixth grade and then again as a third year student and my views have change. Presently this book informs me that one’s life may end up different then the life they started. Also you change depends on the world that surrounds them such as people, environment, and life experiences just to name a few. I believe that The Call of the Wild is one of the best books written, because it educate the readers that throughout life you will continue to learn and be thought. In this paper I will explain Social Darwinist and the terms, technique I us to base the true agenda, and agree my thesis represented by quotes from the book. I will tackle number 3 for this take home midterm.
First off, Buck shows an act of heroism when he backs up and defends John Thornton at a bar. A very evil-tempered and malicious man named Burton was trying to pick a fight with the tenderfoot at the bar, and John Thornton came in between the two men. Without warning, Burton struck Thornton across the face. Instantly Buck hurled himself into Burton. “Those who were looking on heard what was neither bark nor yelp, but a something which is best described as a roar, and they saw Buck’s body rise up in the air as he left the floor for Burton’s throat” (87). Buck had to be pried off of Burton, so he didn’t kill him. Buck almost killed a man who only punched Thornton. If Buck had no civilization in him like critics said, he wouldn’t have defended his master. It even said in the book, “But his reputation was made, and from that day his name spread through every camp in Alaska” (87). This reputation he made was, “If you set a finger on John Thornton and Buck was around, be ready to get your head ripped off”. The only reason he had this reputation was because of the intense love he had for his owner, and a
John Burroughs accused Jack London for being a ‘’Nature Faker’’. Some Critics even said London animal hero’s are men in fur. There is an article about writers like him that was asked can any writer create a believable and compelling nonhuman character without being a nature faker? Why might Jack London have chosen to attempt this difficult technical feat and what is he trying to communicate to readers through his portrayal of Buck? Richard E. Miller called Jon Krakauer’s critique of London vehemence. Krakauer’s fury was for authors whose life and words don’t line up. Since Mc...
Feast, James. "The Call Of The Wild." Magill’S Survey Of American Literature, Revised Edition (2006): 1-2. Literary Reference Center Plus. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
Finch, Robert, and John Elder. The Norton Book of Nature Writing. New York: W.W. Norton, 1990. Print.
Jack London brings man versus nature discussion into his story. The environment, however doesn't play against him for say, but does warn him from the very beginning. The audience can conclude that just like “the man” everyone is alone in the world - fighting for ourselves and the things we wish to acquire. The character created by London is isolated from the universe and fooli...
Abrams, MH, et al. Eds. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1993.