The story is about Buck, a large, half Saint Bernard and half-Scottish shepherd dog who lives in various places under the authority of many masters. Each one treats him a little differently while he is trying to figure out his role in life. These feelings are experienced by him to be pleasant at times and then turn for the worse towards the end of the story.
While being owned by the judge he is treated as a valuable part of his life. It is life of ease until Buck is stolen by the judge’s servant. Here is where Buck is tied up and beaten. The word “master” takes on a whole new meaning and he must learn to obey or suffer the consequences of this life style. He must learn to be alert for the challenges to his life and use his animal instincts to survive in the North. There is competition between the dogs on who will be the lead dog. Fights break out and Buck is tested in his ability to be the most powerful and smartest.
His owners treat him differently when trying to accomplish their goals. He gains approval of Francois and Perrault, after becoming the lead dog of the sled team. The Scotch-Half breed treats Buck fairly but works him to near death. Then Charles, Hal, and Mercedes are lost in knowing how to plan a trip in the cold and frozen northern snow of California. He is finally saved by John Thornton who treats him with kindness which Buck really enjoys this change in his life. Buck saves John a few times, but finds john killed by Yehatt Indians.
Buck learns many different things about life in his journey. He enjoys his first owners’ lifestyle but later is thrown into a world of survival of the fittest in a very cold place in California. His understanding of the definition of master will range from good feelings to a need to somehow survive under cruel circumstances. He returns to the wild country and he never lost his animal instinct that possessed from the beginning o his life.
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| The Call of the Wild |
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