The-Call-of-the-Wild Course Hero

The Call of the
Wild
Study Guide by Course Hero
TENSE
What's Inside Jack London'sThe Call of the Wild is told in the past tense.
ABOUT THE TITLE

j Book Basics ................................................................................................. 1 The title, The Call of the Wild, refers to the urge of the novel's
protagonist, a dog named Buck, to return to the primordial
d In Context ..................................................................................................... 1 state of his wolf ancestors.
a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 3
h Characters .................................................................................................. 4
d In Context
k Plot Summary ............................................................................................. 8
c Chapter Summaries .............................................................................. 13

Klondike Gold Rush
g Quotes ........................................................................................................ 22
In August 1896, Canadian miner Robert Henderson advised a
l Symbols ...................................................................................................... 25
group of prospectors to look for gold in Rabbit Creek in an
m Themes ...................................................................................................... 26 area around the Klondike River in the Yukon, in northwest
Canada. Sure enough, the prospectors discovered gold in the
b Motifs ........................................................................................................... 27 creek. Word about gold at Rabbit Creek spread like wildfire to
miners in nearby areas, and the Klondike gold rush began.
e Suggested Reading .............................................................................. 28
Many of the early miners at Rabbit Creek, later named
Bonanza Creek, struck it rich. When some of these miners
returned to Seattle, Washington, in July 1897, news about gold
j Book Basics in the Klondike spread throughout the United States. In the fall
of 1897, about 30,000 prospectors arrived in the Alaskan
AUTHOR towns of Skagway and Dyea, which became launching points
Jack London for miners. Jack London was among these fortune hunters.
However, London and his fellow prospectors still had to make
YEAR PUBLISHED a journey of several hundred miles to reach the Klondike. The
1903 trip was often hazardous, and many were killed by avalanches
or harsh weather. In The Call of the Wild, London describes a
GENRE
doomed party of greenhorns, or inexperienced miners, who
Adventure
hired a dogsled to transport them to the Klondike.
PERSPECTIVE AND NARRATOR
Miners found gold not only at Bonanza Creek but also in many
The Call of the Wild is told from a third-person limited
other rivers in the area. A boomtown called Dawson sprang up
omniscient point of view, focusing primarily on the dog Buck,
near the junction of Bonanza Creek, the Klondike River, and
except at the beginning and end of the text.
The Call of the Wild Study Guide In Context 2
the Yukon River, and it reached a population of 25,000 within a paired team, the lead dogs are often alert and intelligent
few months. Boomtowns such as this were filled with unruly animals who take directions well. The middle dogs must
miners; Jack London vividly describes rowdy barroom scenes socialize well with others, because they have dogs in front of
in sections of The Call of the Wild. To rein in the mischief, a and behind them. The back dogs, called the wheel dogs, need
detachment of the North-West Mounted Police was stationed to be strongest; they are the closest to the sled and thus bear
in the region. The second wave of prospectors arrived in 1898, the brunt of the pulling. In The Call of the Wild, Buck is a large
when more than 7,000 boats loaded with 28,000 miners dog who has tremendous strength, so he could be used as a
headed down the Yukon River toward the gold fields. By this wheel dog. However, he is also very intelligent and a born
time, however, much of the surface gold had already been leader who takes directions well. So after Buck asserts himself
mined. Even so, prospectors mined a total of about as the leader of the pack, he takes the position of lead dog.
$22,275,000 by 1900. Jack London was not among those who Thus, Buck displays the natural selection of his breeding
struck it rich. (Darwin), the acquiring of characteristics needed to best
survive (Spencer), a will to power (Nietzsche), and the
After 1900, the population in the Yukon region began to advantages of working as a community (Marx).
decline steadily, falling from 27,219 in 1901 to 4,157 in 1921.
Large mining companies bought up the small claims and used
heavy equipment to dredge up gold from the riverbeds. By
1930, about $200 million of gold had been taken from the
Critics' Responses
Klondike.
In the years since The Call of the Wild was published, critiques
of the novel have fallen into several general categories. Some
scholars psychoanalyze the text, discussing ways the story
Dogsled Teams reveals the workings of Jack London's subconscious. Indeed,
London was familiar with Sigmund Freud's work in
Dogsled teams usually have four or six dogs, although some psychoanalysis and was interested in Freud's writings about
teams have more. In The Call of the Wild, François and Perrault symbolism in dreams. Others focus on the influence of Charles
have a team of 9 dogs, and Charles, Hal, and Mercedes have a Darwin's theories. According to Darwin, there is a natural
team of 14 dogs. Today, most dogsled teams work in pairs, process of selection in which living things compete for
with two in the front, two in the middle, and two in the back. In essentials such as food. He also theorized that animals have
The Call of the Wild, though, dog teams work in single file, evolved a moral sense based on doing what is good for the
which was more common back in the days of the Klondike gold community. Darwin believed that one's environment has a
rush. strong influence on one's nature. The critic Tina Gianquitto
states, "Darwin, along with Herbert Spencer, Friedrich
Like a successful sports team, an efficient sled-dog team has
Nietzsche, and Karl Marx ... gave him [London] a way to
members that work well together; each dog has its strengths
comprehend ... communities of humans and dogs ... in the
and weaknesses and its own distinct personality. In The Call of
Klondike."
the Wild, Spitz is aggressive and domineering, Billee is
submissive and congenial, and Joe is ill-humored and taciturn. Some critics claim that Buck represents the superhero as
The musher—the person who runs the dogsled—must defined by the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche
understand each dog's personality and pair or position dogs so believed the ideal person, to whom he refers as the overman or
they work well together. If dogs dislike each other, such as superman, is one who learns to harness his or her strong
Buck and Spitz in The Call of the Wild, they will constantly fight passions and use them in a creative way. When Buck learns
if paired or if placed near each other in single file. However, about the "law of club and fang," he realizes he must control
dogs that love one another's company often won't work well his passions and use them in certain ways to survive. By doing
together, either; they'll want to play instead. The best bet is to this, Buck becomes a type of "super canine."
pair dogs or place them close together if they get along but are
not too friendly.
Each sled dog has its own physical traits, too. In a six-dog
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The Call of the Wild Study Guide Author Biography 3
evolutionary and political theories.

a Author Biography
In 1897, out of work, London headed to the Yukon in northwest
Canada to join the Klondike gold rush. Although he failed to
John Griffith Chaney, who later took the name Jack London,
gain a fortune in gold and suffered from scurvy due to his
was born on January 12, 1876, in San Francisco, California. His
vitamin C deficiency, London amassed a wealth of stories to
mother was Flora Wellman; his father, William Chaney, was an
tell. After returning to California, he wrote a collection of
attorney, journalist, and astrologer who deserted his family
stories set in the Yukon called The Son of the Wolf, which
when Jack was an infant. Jack's mother married an American
became a best seller in 1900. That same year, London married
Civil War veteran named John London in late 1876. Soon the
Bess Maddern. They had two daughters, but within a few
London family moved to Oakland. After finishing grade school,
years, their marriage fell apart.
London decided to work rather than go to high school. He took
a variety of jobs, including shoveling coal and patrolling the sea
In 1903, at age 27, London published the short novel The Call
to catch people fishing illegally. Between jobs, he could often
of the Wild, which instantly became a best seller and made him
be found in a library, devouring novels and other books,
famous. The Call of the Wild tells the story of a dog named
including works by influential thinkers of the 19th century such
Buck who is kidnapped from his comfortable home in California
as Herbert Spencer, Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and Friedrich
and forced to work in the Yukon as a sled dog. During his
Nietzsche.
experience in the wild, Buck reverts to his primal wolf nature.
When writing the novel, London made extensive use of what he
During his later teens, London went on a seal-catching voyage
learned during his gold-rush days in the Yukon, such as how a
to Japan, and his ship weathered a fierce typhoon. When he
sled-dog team works, how to pan for gold, and what life is like
returned home, he entertained his mother with exciting tales
in boomtowns (towns that grow quickly due to sudden
about his journey. Flora suggested that Jack write down one of
prosperity, such as those near gold or other precious
the stories and enter it in a writing contest. London did so and
resources). The far North also provides an excellent setting for
won first prize, beating out college students. Encouraged by
the elemental struggle for survival and the idea that
winning the contest, he decided to become a professional
environment plays a strong role in development, both of which
writer. However, publishers showed no interest in his early
are central to The Call of the Wild.
works. As London endured long periods without work, he
developed sympathy for the downtrodden. In 1894, he joined
After The Call of the Wild was published, many critics lauded
Kelly's Army, a group of workers protesting their
London's bold, straightforward writing style, a sharp contrast
unemployment, and he became an ardent socialist.
to the more refined, subtle literary style of authors such as
Henry James or the sentimental romances of the previous
London was not satisfied with any one theory of social,
decade. Others, including President Theodore Roosevelt,
economic, or biological system. London was impressed with
criticized London for making the canine Buck behave and think
the ideas of Herbert Spencer, an English philosopher in the
like a human. To these critics, Buck's ability to reason and his
late 19th century who coined the phrase, "survival of the
strong love for John Thornton seemed unrealistic.
fittest." Spencer was inspired by Charles Darwin's theory of
evolution and natural selection. In addition to Spencer and
In 1905, two years after publishing The Call of the Wild, London
Darwin, London accepted some ideas from two other
married Charmian Kittredge, who shared his love of adventure
influential 19th-century philosophers, Friedrich Nietzsche and
and travel. The following year, London published White Fang,
Karl Marx. Nietzsche wrote about a "will to power," in which
which reverses the process explored in The Call of the Wild by
individuals strive for self-perfection. Marx wrote about the
depicting a wolf that becomes domesticated. Like its
advantages of individuals working in an associated, rather than
predecessor, White Fang was a great success. In his lifetime,
in a competitive, way through cooperation, public ownership, or
London wrote more than 50 works of fiction and nonfiction,
private management. From Marx's view, socialism's goal is
hundreds of short stories, and many articles. Important works
freedom and independence for all individuals. In his own
include The People of the Abyss (1903), a severe criticism of
writings, London linked ideas about evolutionary adaptation
capitalism; The Sea Wolf (1904), a novel featuring a harsh,
with sociopolitical ideas of belonging and community. Thus,
domineering hero; The Iron Heel (1908), a dystopian novel
London's interest in socialism was a combination of

The Call of the Wild Study Guide Characters 4
about a dictatorial government and a proletariat revolution; and Thornton dreams of attaining riches by mining gold. Because
John Barleycorn (1913), an autobiographical novel whose of this, he and his friends go into a dangerous territory, where
protagonist suffers from alcoholism, as London did for most of they find abundant gold but end up dead.
his life. London died of kidney disease on November 22, 1916,
on his ranch in California.
Spitz
h Characters Spitz is a big snow-white dog who leads the dog team Buck
joins. Spitz can appear friendly on the surface, but underneath
he is cunning and sneaky, and he's a fierce, wolflike fighter.
Spitz uses his fighting prowess to discipline members of his
Buck dog team. After seeing Spitz take pleasure in watching a dog
being killed by a pack, Buck develops a hatred for Spitz. Spitz
Buck is a big, strong dog who is part St. Bernard and part feels threatened by Buck. Most dogs from the Southland can't
Scotch shepherd. In the beginning of The Call of the Wild, Buck survive in the wild, but Buck is powerful and shows he can
is domesticated and lives on a California estate owned by adapt and learn. Spitz tries to pick a fight with Buck, but at first
Judge Miller. Buck sees himself as the prince of the estate, Buck avoids confrontation. Later, though, Buck shows he is
ruling over the domain. The Judge and his offspring treat Buck unafraid of Spitz, and Spitz gets really angry. Eventually, Spitz
kindly and respectfully. Then Buck is captured and shipped to confronts Buck and they have a fierce battle; Buck cripples
the Northland to work as a sled dog. There, he learns the brutal Spitz, who is then killed by the dog team.
"law of club and fang," and realizes he must kill or be killed, eat
or be eaten. As Buck adapts to life as a sled dog, he connects
with his primordial survival instincts. Eventually, Buck takes
over leadership of the dog team after defeating the former
Hal
leader, Spitz. Buck undergoes another change when John
Along with his sister, Mercedes, and her husband, Charles, Hal
Thornton saves him from three abusive sled guides. As
buys a dog team that includes Buck. Hal is a callow young man
Thornton nurses Buck back to health, the dog forms a strong
who constantly needs to prove his toughness and masculinity.
bond of love with him. However, when Buck leads Thornton's
He wears a Colt revolver and a hunting knife strapped to a belt
dogsled team into the remote wilderness, Buck's primordial
loaded with cartridges, but Hal knows little about guiding a
instincts develop even more, and he reaches his full potential
dogsled or surviving in the wild, and he refuses to learn. He
as a fierce predator. When Thornton is killed, Buck breaks all
also treats the dogs brutally, beating the exhausted animals
links with the human community and becomes the leader of a
when they don't perform as well as he expects. Because of his
wolf pack, thereby fully answering the call of the wild.
ignorance and stubbornness, Hal remains oblivious to the
danger in which he puts himself, his companions, and his dogs.
When Hal beats Buck, John Thornton intercedes and saves the
John Thornton dog.
John Thornton is an outdoorsman and a prospector who lives

in the Northland with his two friends, Hans and Pete. Thornton
has a close connection to the wilderness and to dogs. He has
Mercedes
no fear of the wild because he knows how to survive in it. He
Mercedes, her brother, Hal, and her husband, Charles, buy a
shows his great capacity for love when he nurtures Buck back
dog team that includes Buck. Like her brother and husband,
to health. Like many of his companions in the North, Thornton
Mercedes is shallow and inept. At first she hates to see the
is prone to drinking and bragging. During one such episode, he
dogs being beaten, but when the going gets rough on the trail,
bets Buck can pull a sled loaded with 1,000 pounds of flour,
she no longer shows compassion for the animals. In fact, she
but he immediately regrets doing so. However, the devoted
insists on riding in the sled even though the dogs are starving
Buck wins the bet for him. Also like many Northland people,
and exhausted. Mercedes sees herself as a refined lady who

deserves constant pampering; spoiled and immature, she ends

up bickering with her companions like a bratty child. Mercedes
is too obsessed with her petty desires to realize the danger
she and her companions are in.

Character Map
John Thornton
Rescues Buck from
Hal's abuse
Opponents
Man in the Red

Sweater Hal
Believes in the law Young gold prospector
of the club Loving master
Teacher
Abuser
Siblings
Buck
Kidnapped dog; discovers
Friends his wild side in the Klondike
Curly Abuser
Mercedes
Female dog; killed for
Helpless and selfish
being too friendly
Teacher Opponents
Dave Spitz
Gritty dog Leader of the dogsled team
Main Character
Other Major Character
Minor Character

Full Character List Dolly

Dolly is a timid dog who is killed after
she contracts rabies.
Character Description A fair man, François guides a dogsled

that delivers dispatches. François
François
befriends Buck, a member of his dog
Buck is a large dog and the
team.
protagonist of The Call of the Wild.
Buck Following his primordial instincts, he
transforms from a domesticated Hans is one of John Thornton's
animal to a wild creature. Hans partners. Hans accompanies Thornton
in search of a lost mine.
An experienced prospector, John
John Thornton Thornton becomes Buck's loving Joe is a dog on Buck's sled team who
master. Joe
has a sour disposition.
A fierce dog, Spitz fights with Buck for A harsh dog breaker, the man in the
Spitz Man in the red
leadership of a dog team. red sweater teaches Buck the "law of
sweater
the club."
A foolish and inexperienced sled-dog
Hal owner, Hal is the brother of Mercedes Manuel, one of Judge Miller's servants,
Manuel
and brother-in-law of Charles. secretly sells Buck.
A foolish and inexperienced sled-dog A wealthy prospector, Matthewson

Mercedes owner, Mercedes is the sister of Hal places a bet against John Thornton
Matthewson
and the wife of Charles. that Buck cannot pull a sled loaded
with 1,000 pounds of goods.
Billee is a good-natured husky dog
who is part of Buck's dog team. Judge Miller is a wealthy man and
Billee Eventually, Billee dies from the abusive owner of a large Californian estate. He
Judge Miller
treatment of Hal, Charles, and raises Buck from a pup and treats him
Mercedes. as a special dog.
"Black" Burton is a bully; when he picks Jim O'Brien is an old friend of John
"Black" Burton a fight with John Thornton, Buck Jim O'Brien Thornton's; he lends Thornton money
attacks Burton. to cover a bet against Matthewson.
A foolish and inexperienced sled-dog A tough but fair French-Canadian man,

Charles owner, Charles is the husband of Perrault transports dispatches via
Mercedes and brother-in-law of Hal. Perrault dogsled with his partner, François.
Perrault believes Spitz will eventually
kill Buck.
Curly is a good-natured Newfoundland
Curly dog. When he arrives in the Northland,
Curly is killed by a dog pack. Pete is one of John Thornton's
Pete partners. Pete accompanies Thornton
in search of a lost mine.
A veteran member of Buck's dog team,
Dave cares only about pulling a sled
with his team. Even when he becomes Pike is a dog on Buck's dog team who
Dave Pike
seriously ill, Dave insists on being part tends to be lazy.
of the team, but eventually the Scotch
half-breed shoots him.
The primitive man is a subject of
Primitive man Buck's visions; the man accompanies
Buck into the wild.

The Call of the Wild Study Guide Plot Summary 8
makes it clear he is not afraid of Spitz. Sensing Buck's

The Scotch half-breed buys Buck and
his dog team from François and impending mutiny, the dog team becomes unruly. When the
Scotch half- expedition reaches Dawson, Buck rests and listens to the song
Perrault. Along with his companions,
breed
the Scotch half-breed transports mail of the huskies, the ancient song of his breed. During the next
via dogsled.
sled excursion, Spitz confronts Buck; they have a fierce battle,
and Buck cripples Spitz. Then the other dogs on the team
A veteran member of Buck's dog team,
encircle Spitz and kill him as Buck looks on, triumphant.
Sol-leks seems uninterested in
anything but pulling a sled with his
Sol-leks After defeating Spitz, Buck assumes the role of sled-team
team. Blind in one eye, Sol-leks attacks
any dog who approaches him on his leader. Buck proves to be an excellent leader, disciplining the
blind side. dogs as needed. When François and Perrault get a new
assignment, they hand over the dog team to a Scotch half-
The Yeehats are a fictitious tribe of breed who must deliver a heavy load of mail to the North.
Yeehats
First Nations people.
During the night, when Buck gazes at the fire, he has visions of
a primitive man who is afraid of the dark.
In Skaguay, Alaska (today known as Skagway), Buck and his

k Plot Summary dog team are sold to two inexperienced men named Hal and
Charles, along with Charles's wife, Mercedes, who is also Hal's
Set in California during the late 1800s, The Call of the Wild sister. The inept trio overload the sled and refuse to rest the
features a dog named Buck who has been raised on an estate exhausted dogs, who have just traveled 2,500 miles, and as
owned by Judge Miller. Buck is a big dog, part St. Bernard and the team crosses the wilderness, some of the dogs die of
part Scotch shepherd. He views himself as the prince of the starvation. Although he detests the new humans, Buck works
estate, above Judge Miller's dogs. Then one of Judge Miller's as hard as he can, but he, too, becomes exhausted. Eventually,
servants secretly sells Buck to a stranger. The man puts Buck the expedition makes it to the camp of John Thornton, who
in a crate and ships him to Seattle, where another man warns them that the bottom of the trail is falling out because of
disciplines Buck by beating him with a club. Buck grows angry melting ice. Hal ignores the advice and beats Buck to get him
at this mistreatment. to stand up. Enraged, Thornton shoves Hal away and cuts
Buck loose. The expedition continues on without Buck, but the
Next, Buck goes by ship to the Northland city of Dyea. On
sled breaks through ice and Hal, Charles, Mercedes, and the
shore Buck sees a husky and other dogs kill a new canine
sled dogs plunge to their deaths.
arrival, and Buck quickly realizes there is no fair play in the
Northland; it's either kill or be killed. Two men, François and John Thornton nurses Buck back to health, and Buck and
Perrault, buy Buck and add him to their dog team. Buck learns Thornton form a strong bond. Although Buck has connected
how to pull a sled and how to sleep by digging a nest in the with his primordial wolf instincts, he becomes devoted to
snow, but he also learns to distrust and hate the leader of the Thornton. When Thornton's boat overturns in icy rapid water,
dog team, a treacherous dog named Spitz. François and Buck does not hesitate to swim after Thornton to save his life.
Perrault place Buck in a team of eight dogs, including Spitz as Back in Dawson, Buck wins a bet for Thornton by pulling a sled
the leader, and the team pulls a sled across the snow-covered loaded with 1,000 pounds of goods for 100 yards.
terrain toward the town of Dawson. As Buck adapts to his new
life, he sheds his domestication and embraces his primordial Using his winnings, Thornton and his friends Hans and Pete
instincts. finance a search for a lost mine in the remote far North. Buck
leads a dog team on the search, and he enjoys being immersed
Spitz tries to pick a fight with Buck, but Buck avoids a in the wild. After months, the men find a stream with abundant
confrontation, instead focusing on adjusting to his new life. gold, and make camp. In the following weeks, as Thornton and
One night, ravenous wolves attack the camp and devour all the his friends pan gold, Buck often wanders into the woods to
food. As François, Perrault, and the sled dogs continue their hunt. He becomes proud of his ability as a predator, but he
arduous journey to Dawson, Buck gains more confidence and always heads back to Thornton and his camp. One evening,

Buck finds Hans and some dogs dead and hears Yeehats
chanting. (Yeehats are a fictitious tribe of First Nations people.)
Enraged, Buck attacks the Yeehats, killing some and scattering
the rest. Buck then finds Thornton dead by a pool, and he
mourns his master. That night, Buck hears the call of the wild.
With his last tie to humans broken, Buck heads into the forest,
where he meets a wolf pack. Buck shows his dominance by
killing the pack's leader, and the pack accepts Buck as their
new leader.

Plot Diagram
Climax
7
Falling Action
6
Rising Action
5 8
4
9
3
Resolution
2
1
Introduction
7. Buck attacks the Yeehats who kills Thornton.

Introduction
1. Buck is captured and sold to François and Perrault.

Falling Action
8. Buck breaks ties with humans and joins a wolf pack.
Rising Action
2. Buck learns the "law of club and fang."

Resolution
3. As he pulls a sled, Buck connects with his instincts.
9. Yeehats tell of a legend about a Ghost Dog leading a pack.
4. Buck defeats Spitz and becomes leader of the dog team.
5. Thornton saves Buck, and they form a bond of love.
6. As Thornton pans gold, Buck becomes a fierce predator.
Climax

Timeline of Events
1894–97
A dog named Buck lives on a wealthy man's California

estate, where he is well taken care of.
Fall 1897
A servant secretly sells Buck to a man who ships the dog

to Seattle.
Days later
The man in the red sweater teaches Buck the law of the
club.
Days later
François and Perrault buy Buck and travel with him and
three other dogs to the Northland.
Days later
On his first day in the North, Buck sees a dog pack kill
Curly.
Several weeks later
As Buck pulls a dogsled through the wild, he connects

with his primitive instincts.
Weeks later
Buck shows he is not afraid of Spitz, the leader of the

dog team.
Weeks later
During a fierce fight, Buck cripples Spitz, who is then

killed by the other dogs.
Next day
Buck assumes leadership of the dog team.
Months later
Buck and his dog team are sold to three inexperienced

gold seekers: Hal, Charles, and Mercedes.
Several weeks later
The inept Hal, Charles, and Mercedes abuse the dogs as

they travel toward Dawson.
Next day
John Thornton sees Hal beating Buck and saves Buck.
Several weeks later
As Thornton nurses Buck back to health, the two form a

strong bond of love.
Later that year
Buck risks his own life to save Thornton from drowning.
Months later
Buck wins a bet for Thornton; as a result, Thornton and

his two friends receive a large sum.
Several months later
Thornton and his friends search for a lost mine, with

Buck leading the sled team.
Several weeks later
As Thornton pans for gold, Buck answers the call of the

wild, becoming a fierce predator.
Next day
Buck attacks the Yeehats who kill Thornton, mourns his

master, and becomes a wolf pack leader.

The Call of the Wild Study Guide Chapter Summaries 13
meat to eat.
c Chapter Summaries
Buck feels beaten but not broken. He has learned a man with a
club must be obeyed. Eventually, two French-Canadian men,
François and Perrault, buy Buck and take him and a
Chapter 1 Newfoundland named Curly on a ship bound for the Northland.
Buck soon realizes François and Perrault are fair men and
have knowledge about dogs. On the ship, Buck and Curly join a
Summary white dog who seems deceptively friendly. They also meet a
gloomy dog named Dave who shows no interest in his
Because Buck can't read the newspaper, he doesn't know gold surroundings. After the ship docks, François takes Buck to
has been discovered in the Northland, making large dogs with shore. There, Buck is mystified by a strange white substance
"warm, long hair" like him highly sought after to toil in the cold called snow.
climate. Buck lives on a wealthy Californian estate owned by
Judge Miller. Although the estate has many dogs, Buck enjoys
a special position, being neither a kennel dog nor a house dog. Analysis
He is the hunting companion for the Judge's sons and plays
with the judge's grandchildren. Buck feels he rules over the Jack London describes a civilized world in which the dog Buck
place as if he were a prince. However, one day a servant enjoys a privileged life on a Californian estate. The author puts
named Manuel, who is in need of money, takes Buck to meet a Buck in this luxurious setting to emphasize the dog's
stranger by a flag station. The stranger hands Manuel some transformation from civilization to the wild. In this domain, Buck
coins. Manuel puts a rope around Buck's neck, which the dog rules as if he is a prince and is treated with kindness by his
at first accepts. However, when the stranger takes the rope, master. Buck feels special and views himself as above the
Buck growls. The stranger then tightens the rope. Buck kennel dogs and house dogs, yet he deceives himself. He sees
struggles furiously, to no avail. The two men then throw him himself as a ruler because of his master's favor, not because of
into the baggage car of a train, and the train heads north. his own actions and abilities. In this setting, Buck is a dog who
has lost touch with his primordial instincts. To regain a
On the train, Buck bites the stranger who captured him, and connection with these impulses, Buck must be torn away from
the man complains he isn't being paid enough. The man what he finds comforting and familiar and thrust into the
removes the rope from Buck and sticks him in a cage-like frightening unknown.
crate. The following morning, some men pick up the crate,
which is then transported by wagon, truck, and finally, As Buck begins his journey of self-discovery, he moves from a
steamship. During this trip, the enraged Buck doesn't eat or sense of belonging to state of confusion and uncertainty.
drink. The crate is then sent by train to Seattle, where four men During the first four years of his life, Buck feels he belongs at
load it on a wagon. The men take the crated canine to a the Judge's estate because this is the only life he has known.
walled-in backyard. There, a man in a red sweater uses a London compares Buck to country gentlemen who become
hatchet to pry open the crate. Furious, Buck leaps at the man, convinced of the rightness of their privileged position because
who uses a club to strike Buck in midair. Stunned and of "their insular situation." The author was a strong believer in
confused, Buck lands on the ground and charges the man environmental determination, the idea that one's surroundings
again. The man again whacks Buck with the club. Buck shape one's personality. Buck's upbringing on the estate
charges 12 times, and the man clubs him 12 times. Buck convinces him his lifestyle is natural and correct; he is unaware
staggers in a daze, blood flowing from his nose, mouth, and of the primitive drives lying dormant within him.
ears. After this, the man "dealt him a frightful blow on the
Greed changes Buck's life. The Judge's servant, Manuel, sells
nose." Buck charges once more, and the man strikes him to the
Buck to pay for his gambling debts. Money changes hands
ground. Buck gradually regains his senses. The man in the red
again when the dognappers sell Buck to gold prospectors who
sweater tells Buck if he's a good dog he'll be treated well.
buy Buck for a dogsled team they hope will lead them to
However, if he's a bad dog, the man says he will "whale the
riches. These men parallel what Karl Marx saw as greedy
stuffin' outa you." The man brings Buck water to drink and raw

capitalists, exploiting workers and keeping the surplus (the During the night, Buck has trouble sleeping because of the
riches from gold) for themselves. When Buck is thrown into the harsh cold. In addition, he can't locate the other dogs on his
chaotic environment of his capturers, he is outraged like an team. Perplexed, he wanders around the camp for a while.
indignant ruler. Buck feels he does not belong in this situation Suddenly, his paws sink into the snow and he feels something
and should not be treated this way. However, he needs to face wiggling. Startled, Buck jumps back and sees Billie "curled up
this hardship to get in touch with his inner potential. Buck under the snow in a snug ball." Buck soon digs himself a hole,
begins this process when faced with the man in the red curls up inside it, and falls asleep. The next morning, Buck feels
sweater who uses a club to beat Buck into submission. Buck the snow pressed around him and thinks he's caught in a trap.
soon learns the new rules that govern this less-civilized world: Terrified, he leaps up, pushing himself out of the snow and into
"a man with a club was a lawgiver, a master to be obeyed." As the crisp morning air. François admires how quickly Buck
Buck learns to adapt to this new environment, he begins the learned the best way to sleep in the frigid wild.
process that will lead him to embrace his primitive instincts. As
he attains knowledge about his surroundings, he also becomes The French Canadians add three more huskies, making a team
more powerful. Even in his confined situation, Buck's newfound of nine. Their job is to transport dispatches via sled. Buck
knowledge helps him survive. notices when Dave and Sol-leks are harnessed to the sled how
they change from disinterested creatures to alert and active
London also emphasizes that this new law and order is often dogs. Pulling a sled seems to be what these two dogs live for.
backed by violence or the threat of violence. Throughout The The Canadians place Spitz at the head as the leader of the
Call of the Wild, the author shows violence in various situations; team. As the dogs pull the sleds in single file, Dave and Sol-leks
it's often used to enforce a harsh law or express passionate use their sharp teeth to correct Buck when he does something
feeling. In this way, violence becomes a motif in the novel. wrong. During the day, the dogs pull the sled over glaciers and
deep snowdrifts. Usually, Perrault goes ahead of the sled and
François rides the vehicle, guiding it. The journey lasts for days.
Chapter 2 At mealtime, Buck soon understands he has to eat his food
quickly. If he doesn't, other dogs snatch some of the food from
him. Also, Buck notices dogs steal bacon and other food from
Summary François and Perrault. Soon Buck does the same without
getting caught. He is adapting to the new rules of this
uncivilized world to survive. Buck learns quickly, as his body
In the frontier town of Dyea, Alaska, Buck learns more about
grows stronger and his senses of sight and smell become
"the law of club and fang" by witnessing Curly being attacked
more acute. In addition, Buck has started to get in touch with
by a husky dog who rips open the Newfoundland's throat. After
his primitive instincts, fighting other dogs in a wolflike manner.
this, a circle of dogs descend on Curly and rip him apart.
And when Buck howls during the night, "it was his ancestors ...
Although angry about the attack on Curly, François and
howling down through the centuries and through him."
Perrault break up the slaughter too late. Shocked, Buck has
trouble sleeping. However, he also learns there is no fair play in
this uncivilized world. The white dog named Spitz seems
amused by Curly's death. Buck hates Spitz "with a bitter and
Analysis
deathless hatred."
Jack London contrasts the civilized world where Buck grew up
Soon François harnesses Buck to a sled. Along with Dave and with a new, uncivilized world of sled dogs and human masters.
Spitz, Buck pulls a sled to transport firewood. At first, Buck This uncivilized world is not the wild that will eventually call to
finds this work demeaning, but he quickly learns how to work Buck; instead, it's an intermediate stage between civilization
efficiently with the other dogs at their task. François and and the wild. This stage has vastly different rules from
Perrault add more dogs to the team, including good-natured civilization's rules, and prepares Buck for the wild. London
Billie, sullen Joe, and Sol-leks. Like Dave, Sol-leks seems to refers to this new set of rules as "the law of club and fang,"
have no interest in what's going on around him and wants to be which is enforced by violence. In contrast, the author calls the
left alone. rules of civilization "the law of love and fellowship." So,
London's idea of law and order consists of a basic dichotomy

between these two codes of law. Buck has already begun to So, behavior that would warrant a severe reprimand for Buck
show the Darwinian concept of natural selection. His mixed- on the Judge's estate is now accepted among the dogs,
breed ancestry allows him to adapt to and take advantage of thereby showing how Buck is fitting in with his new
his new, more primitive world. environment. Also, Buck shows he belongs by adapting well to
his new routine. Like the other dogs in his team, Buck pulls the
In the previous chapter, London showed the club part of "the sled effectively, eats fish for dinner, crawls in the snow to
law of club and fang" through the man in the red sweater and sleep, and wakes up early in morning with the other dogs and
his use of a club to beat Buck into submission. In this chapter, starts the routine over.
the author depicts the fang part by describing the death of
Curly. When this Newfoundland tries to be friendly to a husky,
the husky tears Curly's throat, and then a pack of dogs rips
Curly apart. This shows Buck that in the uncivilized world, the
Chapter 3
strong dominate the weak through the use of violence. This
event also demonstrates Herbert Spencer's influence on
London. Curly's death conveys Spencer's ideas of the survival
Summary
of the fittest.
As Buck learns about his new life pulling sleds, he focuses
To survive in this harsh reality, Buck must quickly learn new mainly on adjusting his behavior as needed. Because of this, he
skills. By doing this, London shows how knowledge leads to doesn't concern himself with the leader, Spitz, who feels
power. Buck learns in the Northland that the law consists of threatened by Buck and often tries to pick fights with him.
strength and violence and has no rules of fair play. As a result, Buck, though, succeeds in avoiding such a fight. However, one
Buck must always be on guard with the dogs and people he evening Spitz occupies Buck's sleeping nest, which is too much
encounters. This awareness proves to be essential to Buck's for Buck to bear. Furious, he leaps at Spitz, surprising him.
survival. Then Buck gains knowledge about a host of other Buck and Spitz face off for a fight to the death. Then a pack of
things, such as how to sleep during the night, how to eat food, about 50 ravenous wolves enter the camp and desperately
and how to pull a sled. All of this knowledge empowers Buck, start to devour any food they can find. François and Perrault
enabling him to survive. During this process of learning, Buck try to beat them off with clubs, but the blows have no effect.
has to use his primal instincts more often. For example, when The dogs also attack the wolves, starting a fierce melee.
attacked, Buck realizes he must fight using a cut-and-slash Taking advantage of the confusion, Spitz attacks Buck.
technique like a wolf. By doing this, Buck is connecting to his Meanwhile, the other dogs start to run away from the fierce
primitive side and his forgotten ancestors. Sensing this wolves. Buck joins the fleeing dogs. Later, the dogs gather in
connection, Buck howls during the night and feels his the forest, all of them suffering from severe wounds. The dogs
ancestors howling through him. Here, London appears to be head back to camp, only to find the wolves have eaten all the
influenced by Darwin's ideas about the strong influence of the food and left. Cursing their bad luck, François and Perrault get
environment on one's nature. the wounded team harnessed and head toward Dawson, about
400 miles away.
In addition, through his learning, Buck moves from a chaotic
situation back to a sense of belonging. However, in this During the first six days, the sled-dog team faces treacherous
uncivilized world, Buck must adapt and change to achieve this terrain with large areas of thin ice and temperatures dropping
belonging. The author shows this through the example of Buck to –50 degrees Fahrenheit. Buck and Dave break through the
stealing food. In civilization, Buck knew he should not steal ice and nearly drown. Later, Spitz and the other dogs, except
food from humans and proved himself a good dog by not doing for Buck and Dave, plunge through the ice. Buck, Dave, and
this. As a result, Buck showed he belonged in civilization. In the François strain to pull them out. Eventually, the ice improves,
Northland, though, the ground rules have changed. Buck and they make better time. One morning, a dog named Dolly
witnesses another dog stealing bacon and getting away with it. goes mad, foaming at the mouth. Dolly chases Buck for a while,
According to "the law of club and fang," such behavior is and then François crashes an ax on Dolly's head. Exhausted,
accepted. Each animal looks out for its own needs and grabs Buck heads for the sled. Spitz attacks him, but François breaks
what it can. Understanding this, Buck also steals some food. them apart. Buck knows the fight with Spitz for the leadership

of the pack will eventually come, and welcomes it. As the sled- After the wolf attack, the sled-dog team faces severe weather
dog team continues its journey to Dawson, Buck shows no fear conditions and treacherous terrain as they head back to
of Spitz. Once, Buck comes between Spitz and another dog Dawson. During this journey, Buck becomes more in touch with
Spitz was picking a fight with. Buck's mutiny against Spitz his primitive nature. Soon, he becomes confident enough to
causes the entire dog team to get unruly. taunt the dangerous Spitz. When the sled-dog team reaches
Dawson, Buck joins in with huskies as they howl during the
Soon, the sled-dog team heads into Dawson and gets a much- night, expressing the fear and mystery of the dark. The
needed rest of one week. During the night, Buck joins the narrator states, "and that he should be stirred by it marked the
howling of the huskies, feeling stirred by this ancient song. completeness with which he harked back through the ages of
François and Perrault head out on another dispatch run with fire and roof to the raw beginnings of life in the howling ages."
the same team of dogs. Buck agitates Spitz but does so Later, Buck's strong connection to his wild instincts comes to
secretly so the Canadians won't catch him. Sensing the conflict the fore when he chases the rabbit. Buck shows his ability to
between the leader Spitz and the upstart Buck, the entire dog work with the pack.
team continues to be unruly, causing much frustration for
François and Perrault. One evening, the dogs spy a rabbit and Buck becomes a superior animal not only because of his
chase after it. Soon, they are joined by about 50 huskies connection to his primordial instincts, but also because of the
owned by the North West Police. Buck heads the chase. In knowledge he has learned and how he uses his imagination to
contrast, Spitz sneaks around the chase and cuts off the path implement this knowledge. The "law of club and fang" has
of the rabbit, killing it. The pack of chasing dogs all stop, taught Buck to be cunning and patient. For example, Buck
except for Buck, who charges at Spitz. Buck and Spitz begin a makes sure to harass Spitz only when François and Perrault
fight to the death. Spitz fights deftly, biting Buck as he are not looking. Later, Buck combines his knowledge and
attempts various charges. Finally, Buck grabs Spitz's foreleg imagination to defeat Spitz. Buck uses a creative strategy,
and crunches it. Then Buck breaks Spitz's other foreleg, enabling him to cripple his opponent. The narrator states, "But
leaving him crippled. Spitz sees the circle of dogs closing in on Buck possessed a quality that made for
him. Buck knocks Spitz over, and the circle of dogs close in on greatness—imagination. He fought by instinct, but he could
the lame animal and kill him. Buck, "the successful champion," fight by head as well." So, knowledge combined with
stands by and looks on. imagination has empowered Buck to victory.
London emphasizes the theme of belonging through the pride

Analysis Buck and his fellow dogs take in their work. Because of this
pride, Dave and Sol-leks transform from bored creatures to
Jack London explores the theme of the wild and the theme of alert ones when they pull the sled. Spitz takes pride in being
law and order by immersing Buck and his fellow members of the leader who disciplines the dogs in his team when they
the sled-dog team in harsh, wilderness conditions. The "law of make mistakes. So, all of the dogs take pride in the roles they
club and fang" applies both to the uncivilized world of the perform for the benefit of the team. For these dogs, therefore,
Northland people and their dogs and to the wild. However, the working as a well-functioning community is of primary
motivation becomes more intense and instinctual in the wild. importance. The reason again is survival. An efficient team of
This idea is clearly shown when the ravenous wolves attack dogs has a better chance of surviving than an unruly team. So,
the camp to get food. Both the members of the sled-dog team the "law of club and fang" is not used for individual triumph but
and the wolves are ruled by the "law of club and fang." They for the good of the community. Buck and Spitz fight because
each use brute strength and violence in an attempt to achieve each believes he is better suited to be the leader of the team.
their goals. However, the wolves are starving to death. In fact, when this leadership is questioned, the team of dogs
Because of this, their instinctual drive reaches an apex the become unruly, much to the consternation of François and
members of the sled-dog team cannot match. As a result, the Perrault. The team must have a strong leader to function well.
narrator states, "the club fell upon them [the wolves]
This idea of the good of the community again shows Charles
unheeded." The wolves don't care how much they are beaten;
Darwin's influence on London. Along with his principle of
they must get food to survive. This encounter introduces Buck
natural selection, Darwin argues that throughout the
more fully to the wild.

evolutionary process, animals have developed "social instincts" could be causing Dave's pain. They decide to let Dave out of
and a "moral sense" for the "general good of the community." his harness so he can trot freely along with the sled. However,
For animals, a strong community is vital to survival. Marx's Dave hates this and keeps trying to join the team again. The
socialism also featured that cooperation among a group is the Scotch man tries to drive Dave away with a whip, but it doesn't
best approach. work. Eventually, Dave bites through Sol-leks's traces and
stands in front of the sled in his usual spot. The men give in
and allow Dave to pull the sled with the rest of the dogs,
Chapter 4 despite his pain. Dave tries his best but falls down several
times and "once the sled ran upon him so that he limped
thereafter in one of his hind legs." The next morning, Dave is so
Summary weak he has to crawl to the sled. The sled-dog team goes
ahead without Dave. Then they stop, and the Scotch man goes
back to the camp and shoots Dave.
After killing Spitz, Buck wants to take the position as the lead
of the dog team. However, François has other ideas and puts
Sol-leks at the lead. This infuriates Buck, who chases Sol-leks
away and then takes the lead position. At first amused by this,
Analysis
François soon becomes upset at Buck's stubbornness. He
The tightly knit community of the dog team emphasizes the
grabs a club, but Buck scampers away to avoid being hit.
theme of belonging. Even though Buck and his team don't
François gets the sled ready and calls to Buck, but the dog
enjoy pulling the heavy load of mail as much as the lighter load
stays a short distance away. Holding the club, François
of dispatches, they still take pride in working well as a unit and
approaches Buck who retreats a few steps. This happens
performing their task well. As the leader, Buck enforces
several times. Buck feels the leadership of the team is his by
discipline when members of the team slack or make mistakes.
right. Both François and Perrault chase Buck but can't catch
The degree to which the dogs are bonded to the team is
him. Finally, François admits defeat and allows Buck to be the
emphasized with Dave. Even though this dog is in agony, he
leader. The dog happily takes his position at the front of the
still wants to take his part in the team and pull his weight. The
team.
Scotch man uses a whip in an attempt to keep Dave away from
Buck leads the team well, and the sled makes record time to the team, but even the "law of club and fang" doesn't work. So,
Skaguay. In town, fellow mushers admire François and Perrault here, Jack London shows another example of a drive that
and buy them drinks. However, the French Canadians soon get supersedes this law. In the previous chapter, the author shows
new work orders and must leave Buck and the other sled dogs. through the starving wolves that the basic instinct of hunger
A Scotch half-breed and his friend take charge of the dog can be stronger than the violence of club and fang. The drive
team. Buck and his fellow canine teammates find themselves to belong to a community can also be stronger. In fact, it might
pulling a sled heavy with mail. They do not enjoy this task as even be stronger than the need to eat. Dave would probably
much as transporting dispatches but still perform their job well. still want to be part of the team, even if he were starving to
The dogs fall into a routine, which involves getting up at a death.
certain time in the morning, eating breakfast, pulling the sled,
Buck's insistence about being the leader of his team shows his
eating supper, and then lounging by the fire before sleeping.
desire to belong to the community in his proper place, even
Buck enjoys lying by the fire the best. During this time, he
though François at first objects. Buck uses the knowledge he
imagines past events, such as Curly getting killed and his fight
has learned about the "law of club and fang" to avoid being
with Spitz. Also, Buck taps into the memory of his ancient
clubbed by François and to get his way. The skills he has
ancestors and has a vision of a primitive man by the fire afraid
learned in the traces enable Buck to be an excellent team
of the dark.
leader. Even though the mutiny against Spitz has made the
One day, Dave becomes morose and irritable, as if something team unruly, "Buck proceeded to lick them into shape." Once
is hurting him inside. The Scotch man and the other men check again, knowledge leads to power.
the dog for broken bones but don't find any. They wonder what
Also, in this chapter London introduces another motif, namely

visions. For Buck, these visions form a link back to his ancient to make them pull harder. The narrator states, "But it was not
ancestors. Lying by the fire, Buck envisions a primitive man food that Buck and the huskies needed, but rest." Soon, the
with long, matted hair and "his head slanted back under it from three amateurs run low on food and start to underfeed the
the eyes." The primordial instincts of this man are acute. He dogs.
has a "quick alertness as of one who lived in perpetual fear of
things seen and unseen." Buck relates to this man. In the The starving dogs begin to die off. Meanwhile, Hal, Charles,
Northland, Buck is going through a process called atavism. and Mercedes begin to quarrel constantly among themselves.
This process involves reversing the evolutionary processes Mercedes expects to be treated as a dainty lady and grows
and thereby regaining primitive, instinctual traits. As a result, resentful when Hal and Charles speak harshly to her. She also
Buck imagines being with a primitive man, sensing his fear of insists on riding in the sled, making the load 120 pounds
the dark, and listening keenly to the sound of beasts of prey in heavier. Hal believes his two companions and the dogs need to
the wilderness. The narrator states, "the instincts ... which had be tougher. He repeatedly beats the dogs with a club. As if in a
lapsed in later days, and still later, in him [Buck], quickened and nightmare, Buck and his canine teammates pull the sled as
become alive again." much as their exhausted bodies will allow. Buck has wasted
away "so that each rib and every bone in his frame were
outlined cleanly." Still, he and the remaining four dogs stagger
Chapter 5 on.
During this ordeal, the spring weather becomes warm and

sunny. Trees bloom, birds sing, and the ice starts to melt.
Summary Finally, the expedition reaches the camp of John Thornton. The
dogs collapse. Thornton warns the greenhorns the "bottom
Buck and his dog team pull a sled guided by the Scotch man was dropping out of the trail" because of the melting ice.
and his friend into Skaguay. The dogs and men are both dead Charles and Hal ignore this advice. Using a whip, Hal tries to
tired. In the last five months, the group had covered 2,500 force the dogs to get up. They all do so, except for Buck, who
miles. The dogs desperately need a long rest. After three days, remains lying at the head of the team. Furious, Hal whips Buck
two men from the States, named Charles and Hal, and a and then beats him with a club. Thornton watches this abuse in
woman named Mercedes buy the dog team. Charles is married torment. Buck has a vague sense of impending doom lying
to Mercedes and Hal is her brother. They overload the sled, ahead and so refuses to move. Finally, Thornton hurls Hal away
and the men get angry at the exhausted dogs because they from Buck and uses a knife to cut the dog loose. Hal, Charles,
are unable to make the sled budge. Onlookers suggest the and Mercedes continue on as the remaining dogs lug the sled.
greenhorns pack less and give the dogs more rest. But they Buck and Thornton watch as the dogs, sled, and three people
ignore advice. Charles considers the animals lazy and whips head out on some ice about a quarter of a mile ahead.
them. Eventually, the dogs are able to move the top-heavy sled Suddenly, the ice gives way, Mercedes screams, and the
into the street, but in the first turn, the sled tips over, scattering doomed expedition disappears into the frigid water. Thornton
the belongings. and Buck look at each other, and Buck licks Thornton's hand.
The three greenhorns reload the sled with half their

belongings. Even then, the sled is too heavy. Hal and Charles
Analysis
buy six more dogs and add them to the team, making a total of
14 dogs. The two men have never seen a sled with so many Jack London explores a situation in which civilization clashes
dogs and are proud of the number. However, they fail to realize with the wild. Hal, Charles, and Mercedes are highly civilized.
that sleds don't have 14 dogs because sleds can't carry enough They talk about seeing plays, and Mercedes expects to be
food to feed them all. The next morning, Buck and his massive treated like a refined lady. As a result, they see themselves as
dog team pull the sled out of Skaguay, accompanied by superior to the uncivilized world of the Northland and refuse to
Charles, Hal, and Mercedes. Buck does not trust these people learn skills that would help them survive. In contrast, Buck was
because they don't know how to do anything and seem a civilized dog who has been willing to learn and adapt.
unwilling to learn. They at first overfeed the dogs in an attempt Because of this, he has thrived in the Northland.

Because of their clash with the wild, Hal, Charles, and the wolf attack took their food. However, sled expeditions that
Mercedes demonstrate the negative (or reverse) side of the consist of pompous individuals who fail to form a healthy
themes of knowledge and power, law and order, and belonging. community will likely be destroyed by these forces. The
For instance, instead of gaining knowledge that leads to power narrator states, "Not only did they not know how to work dogs,
(like Buck), the three greenhorns have a lack of knowledge that but they did not know how to work themselves." As a result,
leads to weakness and eventually death. Well-meaning their community on the sled expedition is dysfunctional and
inhabitants of Skaguay offer the trio excellent advice, such as deadly. For example, when they run low on food, Hal, Charles,
resting the dogs and lessening the load. However, the three of and Mercedes begin to constantly argue among themselves,
them refuse to rest the dogs and don't reduce the load instead of working together to survive. At the end of the
enough. The only advice they take is loosening the sled chapter, the trio has a last chance at survival. They can
runners from the ice. This refusal to learn leads directly to their swallow their pride and accept guidance from John Thornton, a
demise. Even when a veteran outdoorsman like John Thornton person who knows about forming a strong community in the
tells Hal, Charles, and Mercedes not to continue because of Northland. If they do this, perhaps Thornton will welcome them
the melting ice, they refuse to listen. Instead, they attempt to as guests into his community, giving them food and shelter.
cross ice and plunge to their death, taking all the dogs, except London appears to suggest that had they followed the
for Buck, with them. Their greed for gold endangered their lives important tenets of socialism—setting aside their greed for
and the lives of all their dogs. gold, working within their community, working for the common
good—they more likely would have found success. However,
Also, Hal, Charles, and Mercedes exhibit a negative use of law Hal, Charles, and Mercedes remain deluded, doomed
and order. In previous chapters, the "law of club and fang," individuals.
when used correctly, helps the community survive in the wild.
For example, the man in the red sweater teaches Buck he must
obey his human master. If the human masters are
knowledgeable about sledding and the wild, such as the
Chapter 6
French-Canadian men and the Scotch man, Buck's obedience
to them helps everyone in his group survive. However, because
of their ignorance, the attempt by Hal, Charles, and Mercedes
Summary
to use the "law of club and fang" backfires. The three beat the
As John Thornton waits for his partners to arrive by raft from
dogs, not to maintain discipline, but rather to impose their
Dawson, he nurses Buck back to health. Thornton's dogs,
stupid rule. Violence, therefore, is not used to enhance survival,
Skeet and Nig, befriend Buck. Buck develops a deep bond of
but rather to inflict abusive. The dogs can't pull the sled
love toward Thornton. The narrator states, "Love, genuine
effectively because they are exhausted. However, Hal, Charles,
passionate love, was his [Buck's] for the first time." Thornton
and Mercedes have failed to give the dogs their needed rest
returns this love, treating Buck as if he were one of his
and so beat them to get better performance. As a result, they
children. Buck becomes so attached to Thornton that he
abuse the dogs, who perform even worse because of the
always follows the man around. Even so, Buck maintains a
beatings.
strong connection with the wild. Trained by the brutal "law of
Finally, Hal, Charles, and Mercedes, because of their refusal to club and fang," Buck relies on his primitive instincts when
learn and adapt, place themselves outside the community of dealing with dogs other than Skeet and Nig. The narrator
men and dogs in the wild. The trio shows no desire to belong to claims, "He [Buck] must master or be mastered; while to show
this community because they see themselves as above it, mercy was a weakness." While sitting by the fire near
which is fatal. London shows the wild as a steady, constant Thornton, Buck dreams of half-wolves and wild wolves and
force that follows its own natural laws. In the winter, the "the wild life in the forest." During the day, Buck often hears the
weather can get fierce, with harsh winds and plunging call from the wilderness, and in response he runs deep into the
temperatures. In the spring, the weather becomes pleasant, forest. However, the dog's love for Thornton always draws him
but this causes melting ice. Sled expeditions that work as a back to his master's fire.
well-functioning community can often deal with these forces of
When Thornton's partners, Hans and Pete, arrive, Buck
nature. François and Perrault and their dogs show this after

tolerates them because they are Thornton's friends. But Buck's different law through his love for Thornton. This law, in its own
love for Thornton continues to grow. Once, as an experiment way, is just as fierce as the law of the wild. Because of his love,
Thornton orders Buck to jump off a cliff. Without hesitation Buck does not hesitate to attempt to jump off a cliff, swim
Buck attempts to carry out the command and is stopped only dangerous rapids, or drag 1,000 pounds on a sled. Buck had
when Thornton and his partners drag the dog back from the never experienced this love before. Back on the Judge's
edge of the precipice. Later in a bar in Circle City, an ill- estate, Buck had a bond of friendship, not love, with the Judge
tempered man named "Black" Burton treats Thornton roughly. and his offspring. Even so, this love is most often found in the
In a flash, Buck attacks Burton and rips his throat. During the civilized world. Buck's love for Thornton "seemed to bespeak
fall, Thornton has a boating accident, falling in dangerous the soft, civilizing influence." So, the dichotomy within Buck can
rapids. Risking his own life, Buck plunges into the swift current be seen as a contrast between civilization and the wild.
and saves his master.
With such opposites struggling inside Buck, the reader might
In a bar in Dawson, Thornton and other prospectors brag wonder why the dog doesn't become anxious or neurotic. After
about how much weight their dogs can pull. In a rash moment, all, Buck's essential nature has become one with the primitive
Thornton brags about Buck being able to pull a sled loaded instincts of his wolf ancestors, despite his love for Thornton.
with 1,000 pounds. A man named Matthewson bets $1,000 Buck "retained his wildness and wiliness." Because of this,
that Buck cannot pull this weight 100 yards. Not having this Buck continues to steal food from humans, except for
money, Thornton asks an old friend to loan him the amount. Thornton. With other dogs, except for Thornton's pets, Buck is
The friend agrees. The numerous occupants of the bar empty more than willing to "kill or be killed, eat or be eaten." The
onto the street to watch this exploit. Matthewson insists Buck author emphasizes Buck's connection to the primitive through
must break the sled's runners out of the ice. No one believes the motif of visions. The dog dreams of his wolf ancestors and
Buck can win the bet for his master, and even Thornton has the sound and smells of the wild. Because of this connection,
doubts. The odds go to three to one. Matthewson wants to Buck takes every opportunity to escape the confines of
raise the bet. Thornton, Hans, and Pete pool all their funds, Thornton's comfortable camp and run wild in the forest. Even
about $200, and lay it against Matthewson's $600. When the so, the dog always returns to Thornton's fire.
crowd sees Buck, they are all impressed by his size and
fitness. Soon the odds go down to two to one. Thornton Buck does not become anxious because of his strong bond
attaches Buck to the harness of a sled loaded with 20 fifty- with Thornton. Indeed, this bond is stronger than life itself.
pound sacks of flour. He then whispers to Buck, "As you love Buck shows this with his willingness to jump off a cliff because
me, Buck. As you love me." Buck strains the traces and breaks Thornton commands it. Buck practices the "law of club and
the runners from the ice. Then with a tremendous effort, Buck fang" to survive, to live. But at this point, the dog's law of love
begins to jerk the sled forward, one inch, two inches. The sled for his master supersedes the law of survival. So, Buck does
gains momentum and begins to move steadily with Buck not become anxious; he has no doubt his desire to obey and
straining every fiber in his body. Buck and the sled cross the please his master is the most important thing in his life.
firewood, marking 100 yards. The jubilant crowd throws hats in

For Buck, the "law of club and fang" and "the law of love and
the air. Thornton kneels by Buck and caresses him. The
fellowship" share a common trait: unabashed surrender. Buck's
onlookers gaze respectively at them from a distance.
ability to survive in the Northland comes from his willingness to
let go of his civilized upbringing and surrender to and embrace
his primordial instincts. In a similar way, Buck completely
Analysis surrenders to his love for Thornton. The narrator states, "But
love that was feverish and burning, that was adoration, that
Jack London explores the theme of law and order by creating
was madness, it had taken John Thornton to arouse." In fact,
a dichotomy within Buck. A dichotomy is a contrast between
Buck's unabashed surrender is so intense, it becomes more
two opposing elements or ideas. For Buck, the dichotomy
important than his primitive instincts.
consists of the "law of club and fang" versus the "law of love
and fellowship." As the previous chapters show, Buck has Through his interactions with Thornton and his friends and
learned the brutal "law of club and fang" and excels at dogs, Buck also shows his ability to adapt and change to
enforcing it. However, in this chapter, Buck learns a very

belong to a community. For example, Buck would normally Sensing new life coming into the valley, Buck is filled with
treat Skeet and Nig harshly, especially if they disobeyed. But foreboding. As he reaches the outskirts of camp, Buck finds
because they are Thornton's dogs, Buck treats them with Nig and Hans killed by arrows, and then he hears chanting
tolerance and friendship. Buck also tolerates Hans and Pete coming from the camp. When Buck sees Yeehats dancing in
because they are his master's friends. Normally, Buck would the camp, he attacks them with fury. The Yeehats shoot
have nothing to do with them. Because Buck loves Thornton, arrows and throw spears wildly at Buck and then flee with
he wants to be part of his community and is willing to change Buck in pursuit. Eventually, Buck returns to the camp and finds
to fit in. Thornton dead by a pool. Feeling an aching void, Buck mourns
his master. During the night, Buck hears the call of the wild.
Now that Thornton is gone, Buck no longer has a tie with
Chapter 7 humans, so he is free to follow the call. Buck heads into the
forest and meets a wolf pack in a clearing. When the pack
leader attacks, Buck quickly kills him. Then the whole pack
Summary attacks, but Buck deftly defends himself. Buck's wolf friend
advances in a friendly manner and touches Buck's nose. Buck
sits down with the pack, and they all begin to howl. Buck then
Thornton, Hans, and Pete use their winnings from the bet to
joins the pack as they head into the woods.
finance an excursion in search of a lost mine in the far North
wilderness. Buck leads the sled-dog team, which also includes
Over the following years, the Yeehats tell a story about a
Skeet, Nig, and six other dogs. Buck enjoys this journey
Ghost Dog that "has cunning greater than they ... slaying their
because it involves fishing, hunting, and exploring the unknown.
dogs and defying their bravest hunters." When the Yeehats
The trek lasts through summer, fall, and winter. In the spring,
hunt moose, they refuse to enter a certain valley because of an
the expedition discovers a shallow stream with abundant gold.
Evil Spirit who lives there. During the summer, however, this
Thornton, Hans, and Pete set up camp and pan for gold in the
valley has one visitor, a "gloriously coated wolf, like, and yet
stream. Buck has nothing much to do and spends time gazing
unlike, all other wolves." This creature has been seen leading a
at the fire. He imagines moving through the forest with the
pack of wolves and singing "a song of the younger world,
primitive man, both of them alert to the smells and sounds of
which is the song of the pack."
the wild. At times, Buck senses a call from the forest and tries
to follow it, as if in search of something tangible. One evening
when Buck senses this call, he dashes into the woods and
Analysis
encounters a "long, lean, timber wolf." The wolf flees and Buck
chases it. Buck corners the wolf, who snarls at him. Eventually, The narrator describes the last stage of Buck's transformation,
the wolf realizes Buck intends no harm and the two sniff noses. as the dog moves from the uncivilized world of the Northland
They begin to run "side by side through the somber twilight." people to the wild. Buck has entered an intermediate stage,
Buck is happy because he knows he is answering the call. ruled by the "law of club and fang," but he is not completely
Then Buck remembers John Thornton, turns around, and immersed in the wild. After all, Buck spends most of his time
heads back to the camp. with people, including periods in boomtowns. In this stage,
Buck forms a fierce bond of love with Thornton. Buck's
Buck stays in the camp for two days, but then he feels restless
relationship with Thornton does not constitute a new stage
and wanders again into the forest. He stays in the wilderness
because it does not change Buck's essential nature. Buck
for days, searching for his wolf friend, and there he transforms
remains connected with his primitive instincts no matter how
into "a thing of the wild." Buck survives by killing prey along the
much he loves Thornton. However, Buck has intentionally
way and feels proud of his ability to survive "by virtue of his
decided to suppress his nature because of his love.
own strength and prowess." He combines the cunning of the
wolf and the intelligence of the St. Bernard, making him a As Buck stays with Thornton and his friends in the remote
formidable predator. During the fall, Buck stalks a moose that wilderness, the dog's sense of the wild and connection with the
has been wounded by an arrow. After days of harassing the primitive blossoms. The dog spends days wandering in the
moose, Buck pulls down the weakened animal and kills it. forest, hunting prey. Buck puts the knowledge he has gained in

The Call of the Wild Study Guide Quotes 22
the uncivilized world to full use, thereby gaining power. For influenced by the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and his
example, Buck kills a moose after tracking it for days. As the ideas about the overman or superman. According to Nietzsche,
dog accomplishes these feats, he becomes proud and the overman learns to harness his or her strong passions and
confident of his ability as a predator. He reaches his full use them creatively to achieve higher goals, thus becoming a
potential in this final stage. superior human. In a way, Buck could be seen as a model of
the overman. When Buck attacks the Yeehats, "for the last
As Buck comes into his own, he begins to feel more stress in time in his life he [Buck] allowed passion to usurp cunning and
his relationship with Thornton. In the previous chapter, Buck's reason." Throughout the novel, London also emphasizes Buck's
love for Thornton dominates his call to the wild. In this chapter, ability to use his instincts creatively. This is how Buck defeats
more of a struggle develops in Buck between the "law of club Spitz. The narrator states, "But Buck possessed a quality that
and fang" and the "law of love and fellowship." Because of this, made for greatness—imagination." Buck's higher goal is being
Buck at times becomes restless in the camp and often bolts an effective pack leader. Therefore, at the end of the novel,
into the wild with a sense of urgency. Indeed, Buck could be Buck does not choose to remain alone as a superior, fearsome
seen as developing two personas or identities. In camp, Buck is canine. Instead, he uses his knowledge for a higher
a loving, affectionate dog. However, in the wild, a dramatic purpose—the good of the pack or wolf community. In the end,
change happens. The narrator states, "They [Thornton, Hans, Buck sings "the song of the pack."
and Pete] saw him marching out of camp, but they did not see
the instant and terrible transformation which took place as In Chapter 7, London conveys the motif of violence in two
soon as he was within the secrecy of the forest. ... At once he ways. The author depicts wild, uncontrolled violence when
became a thing of the wild, stealing along softly, cat-footed, a Buck lets his passion get the best of him and attacks the
passing shadow that appeared and disappeared among the Yeehats. This violence serves no practical purpose or higher
shadows." aim. Buck does not have to kill the Yeehats for food and does
not attack them for the good of the wolf community. Buck
Buck's dilemma can be seen as being caused by his belonging simply wants revenge for Thornton's death. In contrast, when
to two communities. Buck feels he belongs with Thornton, as is Buck uses violence to become the wolf pack's leader, it is a
shown by his strong loyalty to this man. Even though Buck cunning violence used for a higher goal. Buck knows he will be
loves hunting in the wild, he keeps coming back to the camp to a better pack leader than any wolf.
be with Thornton. However, Buck's friendship with the wolf
shows the dog's yearning to belong to the wolf pack.
g Quotes
Thornton's death solves Buck's dilemma. The narrator states,
"The last tie was broken. Man and the claims of man no longer
bound him." Freed from the last connection with the human
community, Buck eagerly joins the wolf community. As for
man's greed for the riches of the gold, the gold is absorbed by
"During the four years since his
nature as "a yellow stream flows from rotted moose-hide sacks puppyhood he had lived the life of
[which men used to carry the gold] and sinks into the ground."
Thus, man's quest for riches at the expense of community and
a sated aristocrat; he had a fine
the common good come to nothing, as nature absorbs human pride in himself, was even a trifle
concerns with material things, much as socialism describes.
egotistical."
The reader might well wonder whether Buck would have
remained connected with Thornton if Thornton had lived.
— Narrator, Chapter 1
Evidence could be found for a "yes" answer. After all, because
of Buck's fierce love for Thornton, the dog attacks the
Yeehats. On the other hand, the call of the wild is becoming Buck was raised in a very civilized environment and sees
stronger and stronger within Buck. himself as the ruler of the Judge's estate. However, Buck is
deluding himself; the Judge, not Buck, rules the estate. Buck
As noted in Jack London's biography, the author was strongly has a false sense of dominance.

"That club was a revelation. It was himself."

his introduction to the reign of
primitive law, and he met the
introduction halfway. The facts of Buck begins to learn about surviving in the uncivilized world. He
realizes he must follow the other dogs' lead and dig a hole in
life took on a fiercer aspect; and the snow to sleep in. Buck is acquiring knowledge that will help
while he faced that aspect him survive and become powerful.
uncowed, he faced it with all the

latent cunning of his nature "And not only did he learn by
aroused." experience, but instincts long
dead became alive again. The
domesticated generations fell
Buck gets a rude awakening when he faces the law of the club. from him. In vague ways he
Buck realizes he is not a princely ruler but rather a subject
ruled by any man wielding a club. This realization brings Buck
remembered back to the youth of
in closer contact with his primitive nature. He must rely on this the breed, to the time the wild
nature to deal with the law of the club.
dogs ranged in packs through the
primeval forest and killed their
"They were savages, all of them,
meat as they ran it down."
who knew no law but the law of
club and fang." — Narrator, Chapter 2
— Narrator, Chapter 2 As Buck learns more about surviving in the uncivilized world, he
forms a strong connection with his primitive instincts. He also
gains a sense of his wolf ancestors' history.
After arriving in the North, Buck realizes the entirely new world
he has entered, including men with clubs and dogs, is ruled by
the "law of club and fang." This law is based on the strong
dominating the weak through violence. Buck knows he must
"In the main they were the wild
study and learn to survive in this world. wolf husky breed. Every night,
regularly, at nine, at twelve, and
"Another lesson. So that was the three, they lifted a nocturnal song,
way they did it, eh? Buck a weird and eerie chant, in which it
confidently selected a spot, and was Buck's delight to join."
with much fuss and wasted effort
proceeded to dig a hole for

As Buck adapts to the fierce Northland, he feels a yearning to function in the team, which shows his strength as a leader.
belong with the dog community, so he is delighted to join the Each dog on the team has a sense of belonging and playing a
huskies as they howl. For Buck, this community forms a link to necessary role.
his ancestral wolf community.
"This was the first time Buck had

"Buck stood and looked on, the
failed, in itself a sufficient reason
successful champion, the
to drive Hal into a rage. He
dominant primordial beast who
exchanged the whip for the
had made his kill and found it
customary club. Buck refused to
good."
move under the rain of heavier
— Narrator, Chapter 3 blows which now fell upon him."
Buck has become an expert at enforcing the "law of club and — Narrator, Chapter 5
fang," and he uses this skill to defeat Spitz. Buck knows a dog
team or pack needs a strong leader, and he proves he is most The inexperienced Hal misuses violence by beating Buck. Buck
qualified for this position by taking on Spitz. Buck is no longer knows much more about the wild than Hal. Buck knows he and
deluding himself about being a ruler. He has earned the right to his exhausted dog team need rest, and he has a sense of
rule the dog team. foreboding about what lies ahead. Hal is oblivious to all of this,
and his ignorance will lead to disaster.
"The general tone of the team

picked up immediately. It "Deep in the forest a call was
recovered its old-time solidarity, sounding, and as often as he
and once more the dogs leaped as heard this call, mysteriously
one dog in the traces. At the Rink thrilling and luring, he felt
Rapids two native huskies, Teek compelled to turn his back upon
and Koona, were added; and the the fire and the beaten earth
celerity with which Buck broke around it, and to plunge into the
them in took away François's forest, and on and on, he knew not
breath." where or why; nor did he wonder

where or why, the call sounding
imperiously, deep in the forest. But
When Buck mutinies against Spitz's leadership, the dog team

as often as he gained the soft
gets unruly. However, when Buck takes charge, the team unbroken earth and the green
works smoothly. Buck quickly teaches two new dogs how to

The Call of the Wild Study Guide Symbols 25
shade, the love for John Thornton gigantic above his fellows, his
drew him back to the fire again." great throat a-bellow as he sings a
song of the younger world, which
is the song of the pack."
Buck senses he belongs in two worlds: his primitive instincts
tell him he belongs in the wild, but his love for Thornton tells — Narrator, Chapter 7
him he belongs with this man and his somewhat civilized

community. This dichotomy within Buck can be seen as a At the end of the novel, Buck has fully answered the call of the
struggle between the "law of club and fang" and the "law of wild. He embraces his primordial instincts and becomes the
love and brotherhood." leader of a wolf pack. Buck is fulfilling his destiny—one written
within him by his primitive wolf ancestry.
"It was the call, the many-noted

call, sounding more luringly and l Symbols
compellingly than ever before. And
as never before, he was ready to
Buck's Harness
obey. John Thornton was dead.
The last tie was broken. Man and
The straps that connect Buck to the dogsled team shift from a
the claims of man no longer bound
symbol of submission to dominance and then to freedom as
him." Buck's situation changes. After Buck's kidnapping, the harness
emphasizes Buck's shift in position from dominance at Judge
— Narrator, Chapter 7 Miller's to a position of subservience as he is forced to pull the
sled for the prospectors. However, after Buck dethrones Spitz
and takes over as the leader of the dog team, the harness
When Thornton dies, Buck resolves his struggle between the
comes to symbolize his authority to lead the pack. Finally,
human community and the wild community of the wolf pack.
when John Thornton cuts away Buck's harness, Buck
Buck answers the call of the wild, breaking his ties with
discovers a freedom in being Thornton's companion rather
humans.
than his servant.
"But he is not always alone. When

the long winter nights come on
Mercedes's Belongings
and the wolves follow their meat
into the lower valleys, he may be Mercedes's misunderstanding of her environment is
symbolized by the way she packs her belongings for the trip.
seen running at the head of the She overloads the sled with belongings that have no value in
the wild. The value of an object in the wild is based on its use
pack through the pale moonlight
or purpose. Mercedes brings objects that have value only in
or glimmering borealis, leaping civilization, where objects are evaluated by their positive

The Call of the Wild Study Guide Themes 26
reflections on their owners. Because Mercedes does not For London, "the law of club and fang" rules the uncivilized
understand this distinction, she causes her own death as the world and the wild, and "the law of love and brotherhood" is
overpacked sled becomes too heavy for the ice to bear. The most often found in civilization. The wild has no human-made
wild does not support the folly of material wealth. code of laws, so it is ruled by strength and the survival of the
fittest. Buck triumphs in the wild because he becomes "a killer,
a thing that preyed ... by virtue of his own strength and
prowess, surviving triumphantly in a hostile environment where
m Themes only the strong survived."
London never asserts that "the law of club and fang" is

stronger than "the law of love and brotherhood." Instead, he
Civilization versus the Wild creates a dichotomy within Buck where the two laws coexist.
When he meets John Thornton, Buck already is connected
with his primal instincts. However, after forming a strong bond
Jack London conveys the theme of civilization versus the wild of love with Thornton, Buck suppresses these wild instincts
through the stages of Buck's transformation. In the first stage, and allows his love for the man to rule him. Eventually, when
Buck lives the plush life of a domesticated dog on a sprawling Buck stalks prey in the forest, his primitive side develops even
Californian estate that London portrays as the height of more, creating an internal struggle between the "law of club
civilization. Buck sees himself as the ruler of this realm. and fang" and "the law of love and brotherhood." Buck seems
to develop two identities—the loyal, affectionate dog in
Stage two begins dramatically: Buck is captured and sold as a Thornton's camp and the fierce predator in the wild. London
sled dog, and soon he faces the uncivilized world of the never indicates which side of Buck is stronger. When Thornton
Northland, a world with no genteel rules or comfort. As Buck dies, however, Buck no longer has a bond with humans, and he
learns dogs in the North follow the "law of club and fang" and is free to embrace the wild.
must kill or be killed, he begins to connect with his primitive
instincts. But although he is governed by the law of the wild,
Buck isn't yet wild; he spends most of his time with people.
François, Perrault, and the Scotch half-breed perform tasks of Knowledge and Power
civilization, delivering dispatches and mail, and Buck forms a
strong bond of love with John Thornton. Stage two, therefore,
is an intermediate stage in which Buck connects with his London depicts the theme of knowledge and power mainly
primitive instincts in a rough but human setting. through Buck's ability to adapt and change to his environment.
Buck is always open to learning new skills and embracing his
In the final stage, Buck becomes immersed in the wild while
instincts. For example, he is perplexed about how to sleep on
leading Thornton's dogsled. Here, Buck's primordial instincts
cold winter nights in the North, but he soon learns that the
reach their full potential, and he becomes a fierce predator.
other sled dogs dig nests in the snow, and he does likewise.
After Thornton's death, Buck breaks from the human
Also, Buck observes how Spitz fights, and uses this knowledge
community and surrenders completely to the call of the wild by
to defeat him. The more Buck learns, the more powerful he
becoming a leader of a wolf pack.
becomes, and this allows him to embrace the call of the wild.
The author also stresses what happens when civilized people

and dogs fail to adapt to the wild. Of such dogs, the narrator
Law and Order states, "They [domesticated dogs] were all too soft, dying
under the toil, the frost, and starvation." The humans Hal,
Charles, and Mercedes are too foolish, prideful, and conceited
In The Call of the Wild, London contrasts two sets of rules: "the to adapt to the wild. Their ignorance leads them to overfeed,
law of club and fang" and "the law of love and brotherhood." underfeed, and otherwise mistreat the dogs, and in the end,

The Call of the Wild Study Guide Motifs 27
that ignorance kills them. For Jack London, lack of knowledge

leads to weakness and death. b Motifs
Belonging Violence
Jack London threads the motif of violence throughout The Call
of the Wild. This motif takes three forms. First, London shows
For London, the theme of belonging is directly tied to the violence as the main method to enforce the "law of club and
importance of community. Throughout the novel, Buck yearns fang." The man in the red sweater beats Buck with a club to
to be part of a community. On the Judge's estate, Buck teach him obedience. Spitz and Buck use violence to discipline
belongs to a civilized community and is perfectly content with the dog team. This violence serves the community. For
his place in it. If Buck had never been captured, he would have instance, by learning to obey a man with a club, Buck becomes
lived out his days in peace without ever hearing the call of the an effective member of his dog team.
wild. However, when Buck is thrust into the Northland, he must
adapt his behavior to a new, uncivilized community, or else he London also shows a second type of violence, which is used by
won't survive long. Then when he meets John Thornton, Buck Hal, Charles, and (indirectly) Mercedes. This violence does not
develops a love for him and wants to stay with him. He wants support the "law of club and fang"; it supports chaos, which
to belong to Thornton's community, which consists of the destroys the community. The greenhorns run the dogsled
man's friends and other dogs. haphazardly and ineptly. For example, when Hal beats the
dogs, he makes them less effective. Hal's ignorant violence
London also suggests that people yearn to belong to a leads to destruction, not survival.
community. Because François and Perrault take their roles in
the community so seriously, they face all types of hardships to A third type of violence is motivated by passion. Buck shows
deliver their dispatches. Thornton and his friends seek the this when he fights against the man in the red sweater and
society of fellow prospectors in various boomtowns, and this when he kills the Yeehats. This violence does not support the
community's respect is important to them. To earn it, Thornton "law of club and fang"; instead, it seeks vengeance. Vengeful
asks Buck to accomplish a seemingly impossible task, pulling a violence threatens the survival of those who practice it. If Buck
sled loaded with 1,000 pounds of flour. had continued to rebel against the man in the red sweater, he
never would have learned the "law of club and fang," and he
London sees community as essential for survival. When Buck would not have survived. When Buck attacks the Yeehats, he
mutinies against Spitz, the dog team becomes unruly, and their does nothing to enhance his survival, and he risks being killed.
sense of community is fractured. If the unrest continues, the
sled team's lives will be at risk; an inefficient team will make Readers may think London depicts nature's violence as well.
them more vulnerable to the harsh environment. François is For instance, François, Perrault, and their dog team face harsh
well aware of this: "François swore strange barbarous oaths, weather that threaten their lives, and Hal, Charles, and
and stamped the snow in futile rage, and tore his hair." When Mercedes sled across thin ice, which eventually kills them.
Buck defeats Spitz and takes leadership of the team, the However, these situations are not violent because nature does
community is restored, and the dogsled makes record time. not intend to hurt, damage, or kill anyone. Nature simply follows
Meanwhile, Hal, Charles, and Mercedes are misfits in the its course, one that includes frigid temperatures and melting
Northland community. Because they make no effort to belong, ice.
they put themselves and their dogs at risk.
Visions
Throughout The Call of the Wild, Buck has a series of dreams
and visions that show his fear and his developing connection

The Call of the Wild Study Guide Suggested Reading 28
with his primordial instincts. In one nightmarish dream, he Naturalistic Romance. New York: Twayne, 1994. Print.
witnesses Curly's vicious death, which impresses on Buck the
need to obey the "law of club and fang." Later, Buck dreams
about Thornton leaving him, which intensifies Buck's devotion
to his master.
Buck's primordial visions progress as he answers the call of

the wild. First, when Buck becomes leader of his dog team and
connects with his primitive instincts, he vividly imagines a
primitive man sitting by a fire and looking fearfully into the dark.
Buck sees the man's "fire-scorched skin" and body hair matted
like "thick fur," and he sees the eyes of "great beasts of prey"
in the dark. Later, when Buck sits with Thornton by the fire, the
dog senses the presence of other "dogs, half-wolves, and wild
wolves." Because Buck shares his ancestors' instincts, he
becomes their living embodiment. His vision has a tangible
reality. After this, when Buck is in the remote far North, he sees
himself accompanying the primitive man in the wilderness:
"Through the forest they crept noiselessly, Buck at the hairy
man's heels." Now Buck has become an active participant in his
visions. Soon, Buck runs with his wolf brother in the woods,
sensing he has done so before, during a primordial age. Buck
begins to reenact his visions in the real world, making his
visions of his primitive ancestors a reality. Buck has now fully
answered the call of the wild.
At the end of the novel, the Yeehats tell stories about a fierce
Ghost Dog, who is Buck. These stories can be seen as
legendary visions of the wild. By fully embracing his visions,
Buck has transformed himself into legend.
e Suggested Reading
Labor, Earle. Jack London: An American Life. New York: Farrar,
2013. Print.
London, Jack. The Call of the Wild: Annotated and Illustrated.

Ed. Daniel Dyer. Norman: U of Oklahoma P, 1997. Print.
London, Jack. The Call of the Wild: A Casebook with Text,

Background Sources, Reviews, Critical Essays, and
Bibliography. Ed. Earl J. Wilcox. Chicago: Nelson, 1980. Print.
Nuernber, Susan M., ed. The Critical Response to Jack London.

Westport: Greenwood, 1994. Print.
Tavernier-Courbin, Jacqueline. The Call of the Wild: A

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The Call of the

ABOUT THE TITLE

a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 3

c Chapter Summaries .............................................................................. 13

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evolutionary and political theories.

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John Thornton is an outdoorsman and a prospector who lives

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deserves constant pampering; spoiled and immature, she ends

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Man in the Red

Other Major Character

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Full Character List Dolly

Character Description A fair man, François guides a dogsled

A foolish and inexperienced sled-​dog A wealthy prospector, Matthewson

A foolish and inexperienced sled-​dog A tough but fair French-​Canadian man,

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makes it clear he is not afraid of Spitz. Sensing Buck's

In Skaguay, Alaska (today known as Skagway), Buck and his

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7. Buck attacks the Yeehats who kills Thornton.

1. Buck is captured and sold to François and Perrault.

8. Buck breaks ties with humans and joins a wolf pack.

2. Buck learns the "law of club and fang."

5. Thornton saves Buck, and they form a bond of love.

6. As Thornton pans gold, Buck becomes a fierce predator.

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A dog named Buck lives on a wealthy man's California

A servant secretly sells Buck to a man who ships the dog

Several weeks later

As Buck pulls a dogsled through the wild, he connects

Buck shows he is not afraid of Spitz, the leader of the

During a fierce fight, Buck cripples Spitz, who is then

Buck assumes leadership of the dog team.

Buck and his dog team are sold to three inexperienced

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gold seekers: Hal, Charles, and Mercedes.

Several weeks later

The inept Hal, Charles, and Mercedes abuse the dogs as

John Thornton sees Hal beating Buck and saves Buck.

Several weeks later

As Thornton nurses Buck back to health, the two form a

Later that year

Buck risks his own life to save Thornton from drowning.

Buck wins a bet for Thornton; as a result, Thornton and

Several months later

Thornton and his friends search for a lost mine, with

Several weeks later

As Thornton pans for gold, Buck answers the call of the

Buck attacks the Yeehats who kill Thornton, mourns his

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Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

London emphasizes the theme of belonging through the pride

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During this ordeal, the spring weather becomes warm and

The three greenhorns reload the sled with half their

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A foolish and inexperienced sled-dog A wealthy prospector, Matthewson

A foolish and inexperienced sled-dog A tough but fair French-Canadian man,