The Call of the Wild Author Jack London

• The Call of the Wild – Author • Jack London – Jack London • Born 1876, Died 1916 • Left school after 8 th grade, but later returned to graduate from high school • Only briefly attended Cal, Berkley before beginning a life of adventure • Some of his adventures in real life included the following: – Pirate – Tramp – Gold prospector – Journalist for Various Wars

• The Call of the Wild – Jack London, Con’t: • The Call of the Wild is his most famous work • These experiences, especially his time looking for gold in Canada, are seen in The Call of the Wild • Wrote over 50 books and was at one time the most popular writer in America • His works focused on the exploration of new frontiers, including the American West • They celebrated violence, power and strength

• Literary Focus – Date of Publication • 1903 – Genre • Adventure; Beast Fable – Setting (TIME) • The Late 1890 s – Setting (PLACE) • Canada; Alaska – two regions that are diametrically opposed—the Southland the Northland. The former represents civilization and the latter the wild. In the South, Buck lived a domesticated and perfectly stable life. When Buck arrives in the North, he realizes that survival is the only concern.

• Literary Focus – Point of View – Protagonist – Antagonist • Third-Person – The Call of the Wild is told from a very unusual point of view—that of a dog. Yet a human narrator stands outside of Buck's consciousness and makes sense of the dog's universe to human readers. • Buck • Nature; Selfish, Irresponsible Owners

• Characters – Buck • A powerful dog, who feels the call of the wild • Buck is stolen from the California estate and sold as a sled dog in the Arctic • Buck evolves from a pampered pet into a fierce, masterful animal, a survivor in the cruel Northern wilderness

• Spitz • Buck’s archrival • A fierce “devil-dog” used to winning fight with other dogs • Spitz is defeated and killed by Buck • Amoral and ruthless

• Hal • An American gold seeker • Hal buys Buck’s dog team • Terrible masters to the dog team

• Mercedes • Hal’s sister and Charles’s wife • Spoiled and pampered • Slows down the journey • Does show some sympathy for the dogs

• Charles • Mercedes’ husband Hal’s brother-inlaw • Inexperienced and foolish

• John Thornton • Buck’s final master • Experienced gold hunter and knows the ways of the Klondike • Thornton and Buck’s relationship is the ideal for human and animal—they protect each other and are devoted to each other

• Literary Focus – Allegory • An allegory tells two stories at once—one set in the reality of the story and one with more symbolic significance • On one level the story is simply about a dog answering the “call of the wild. ” • On a deeper level, however, the novel may be voicing London’s opinion that man is inherently savage and, like Buck, must learn to survive by any means necessary

• Literary Focus – Symbolism • Hal and his companions represent the weakness of civilized people and embody the worst kind of man to human relationship • Mercedes is symbolic of how civilized women are babied by their men and unsuited for life in the wild

• Literary Focus, Con’t – Themes and Conflicts • • Survival Cruelty of Nature Survival of the Fittest Quest for Alpha Dog Status Primitive Instincts Rugged Individualism Freedom and Solitary Life Civilization vs. Nature

• Influences – Friedrich Nietzsche – Charles Darwin • A German philosopher • Two Types of Human Beings: “Masters, ” who have a will to be powerful and “slaves” who do not have that same desire • Envisioned a natural world defined by fierce competition for scarce resources • Darwin’s theory can be simplified into the idea of “survival of the fittest”

• Overview • Buck is a powerful dog, who is a mix of St. Bernard and sheepdog • Gold is discovered in the Klondike region of Canada and Buck is sold to dog traders • Buck, who had grown used to the sunny weather of California, is shocked by the harsh conditions of the north • Buck however becomes adept and learns to trust his animalistic nature • He soon becomes the lead dog for his team

• Overview, Con’t • On one of Buck’s journeys his inexperienced masters ignore the dangers of the wilderness • With the help of the gold hunter John Thornton Buck is freed from his irresponsible owners and becomes completely devoted to Thornton • He saves Thornton’s life on more than one occasion • Buck’s affection for Thornton is tempered, however, because he is increasingly drawn to the call of the wild • Once a dog of leisure, Buck has developed into an animal that is one with nature.