Call Of The Wild Analysis

Jack London once said, “The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.” This relates to a major theme in The Call of the Wild, one of Jack’s most popular books, it displays that life is a quest to find one’s identity/destiny, which Buck shows throughout the whole story. Buck takes his taking and turns it around to find who he truly was meant to be. In the beginning, Buck has to learn to adapt to the different and changing environments and stay alive to complete his quest. First, Buck has to stay alive to continue his search for his true self. For example, Buck has to survive his confrontations with the “man in the red sweater” by learning the “Law of Club” which states that a man with a club is to be obeyed. Since Buck gives up on trying to fight back, he learns that he will be beaten until he bleeds and survival is key in this dangerous world. Second, Buck must go two days and two nights without food or water. For Instance, from that experience Buck learns that he must preserve himself. Since he goes through the tough experience of hunger and thirst, he can adapt to changes much better. Last,
Buck learns to pull the sled, no matter the struggle, he knows he is stuck pulling the sled. For example, Buck quickly learns that he will be killed if he does not pull the sled, no one will hesitate to kill a disobedient dog. Since Buck has attained this information he has learned his and every one of his master’s boundaries. Thus, Buck is starting on his quest by quickly learning and adapting to survive. In the middle of the book, Buck must earn recognition from every one of his masters, status of the other dogs, and even love and affection to continue on his quest. First, Buck surprises everyone with how good of a sled dog he his, for which he will be rewarded. For example, he learns the commands given to him, he earns extra food, and gets feet rubs. Since Francois and Perrault favor Buck for the best sled dog he is, he has earned their recognition. Second, Buck’s peers follow his lead. For instance, the other dogs feel protected by Buck because he protects them from Spitz. Since Buck has earned the status of the other dogs they begin to disobey Spitz. Last, Buck finds love with John Thorton. For example, Buck saves John Thorton’s life and becomes his personal watchdog. Since Buck finds his strong love and affection with John Thorton, they become inseparable. In conclusion, Buck furthers his quest by gaining his master’s recognition, status among the other dogs, and the love of John Thorton. At the end of the book, Buck becomes wild, completing his quest.
First, Buck begins hunting wild game. For example, he kills and also eats a bull moose and black bear alone. Since Buck can kill and eat on his own, he is on his way to becoming wild. Second, Buck kills the Yeehats after they attack and kill Thorton and his friends at camp. For instance, Buck rips the throats of the people of the tribe who have done wrong to him and his former family. Since buck kills humans, he is very close to becoming completely wild. Last, Buck answers the call by joining a wolf pack. For example, the pack surrounds Buck and tries to attack Buck, but stops and accept him as a part of the pack. Since the wolf pack accepts Buck he takes lead of the pack and becomes the famous “Ghost Dog”. In conclusion, Buck becomes wild and fulfills his quest to find his true
self. “The proper function of man is to live, not to exist,” said by the amazing Jack London, provides another theme for Buck to show us, throughout the book he he displays that he is meant to live, not just exist, but he also shows us that he has completed his quest to find his true identity. Buck has taken his worst nightmare and turned it into a dream.