Call of the Wild

I chose to write my essay on Jack London’s, “Call of the Wild.” The main reason I chose this selection was that I truly enjoyed his way of story telling in, “The Laws of Life,” and, “To Build a Fire.” London’s, “Call of the Wild,” didn’t disappoint.

In doing research for this paper, I found out that London like so many others of his time went to the frozen Klondike expecting to strike it rich. However, like so many prospectors, he did not find an ounce of gold. Instead he suffered effects of scurvy, and incredible hardships. Realizing he was beaten, London returned to California without gold, but with a wealth of experiences and impressions from the Klondike that would soon be captured in the stories and novels for which he became famous.

London in the stories I’ve read so far doesn’t write your typical Hollywood story. He kind of has a darker side, and doesn’t worry about having a happy ending. For instance in, “To Build a Fire,” London doesn’t give either the man or the dog a name in the story. Unlike others in the class, I was hoping that the man would survive the elements and make it back safely. But in a more true to life scenario, the nameless man suffers incredible bad luck, and has no ch

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First they feed the dogs too much and then as the food runs out, they feed them too little.

Buck learns that to survive the harsh conditions and the savagery of the dog-pack, he must be cunning and ruthless. Buck proves this love on several occasions. Buck comes into conflict with Spitz, another dog on the team. As the judge’s loyal companion, Buck worked with his sons, and guarded the Judge’s grandchildren. When the dogs get completely fatigued, Hal whips them mercilessly. John Thornton, a prospector camped nearby, stops Hal and takes Buck away from the inept threesome. His civilized morals disappear as survival becomes the driving force of his existence. First he pulls a sled for the postal service. When the two dogs fight to the death, Buck triumphs, leaving the mortally wounded Spitz to be devoured by the raging dog pack. Bernard, and half sheepdog, grew up in a life of ease at Judge Miller’s Santa Clara Valley estate. There, Manuel took Buck’s civilized world away from him and sold him away. They wanted dogs, dogs exactly like Buck. Combining his mother’s intelligence with the size and strength of his father, Buck ruled over all things, humans included.

Buck along with other dogs was purchased by Francois and Perrault, dispatchers for the Canadian government, and transported by ship to Alaska.

Approximate Word count = 947
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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