The Call Of The Wild
By Jack London
Buck
Towards the end of his journey, an American gold seeker named Hal, along with his spoiled sister Mercades and her husband Charles buy Buck from the team. Although, them being inexperienced dog masters, they end up running out of food and start to argue with each other.
Later, before Buck is beaten to death by Hal, he is saved by a gold prospector named John Thorton, who becomes Buck's last master. Unlike his previous owners, John and Buck are a perfect example of the ideal man-dog relationship. They both have each other's back. For example, John saved Buck from Hal, then Buck later saves John from drowning. Jack London shows how John is much more of a brotherly figure to Buck than a master. This bond continues to be strong, up until when John dies is the bond begins to weaken. But despite his death, Buck still returns to John's home every now and then. Jack London really describes Buck's relationship with John as a primitive friendship rather than a civilized one. Although John has died, their relation was strong, and Buck remembers him even as he becomes wild and leaves civilization.
Theme and Setting
The setting of the story really helps advance the plot of the story, because just like Buck's life, the setting changes throughout the story. It first begins in sunny Santa Clara, California, then after Buck is kidnapped, changes to the freezing north. The setting helps a reader understand the massive change Buck experiences. Buck, being so use to a sunny and happy life in California, is shipped toe the freezing weather of the north. As Buck learns to survive in the freezing environment, he then discovers the insticts of his ancestors, and in time, he responds to the call of the wild.