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 chance of surviving the elements. London doesn't seem to give his stories any true hero. I guess instead of routing for Buck, I kind of felt sorry for him. I didn't find him to be a hero, but one who had transformed from a civilized pet, to the harsher realities of life in the frozen tundra where survival is a never-ending struggle. I guess if there was a hero in Call of the Wild, it is John Thornton. He saves Buck from death at the hands of his previous owners, which in turn Buck rewards Thornton with a fierce devotion. The strength of their bond is enough to keep Buck from acting on the forces pulling him into t
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