In Jack London’s The Call of The Wild. The main dog Buck is saved from three incredibly abusive owners, Hal, Charles and Mercedes, by a man named John Thornton. Buck was starved and beaten, and Johns ends up healing Buck back to health. They form an incredibly close bond. Buck ends up thinking “This man has saved his life, which was something; but further, he was the ideal master.” (Pg.61). Buck had very little respect for his previous driver, Hal. Yet the fact that not only John is a skilled driver and treats his dogs right gains a mutual respect between the two.
There is also Buck’s more primitive side that begins to show through after an encounter with a wolf. John decides to take a trip to find a legendary mine, they live off the land and while their Buck meets a wolf. The wolf and him merely sniff each other and go on their ways. This sparks a wilder side in Buck. “The blood-longing became stronger than ever.” (Pg.79). Buck begins to hunt more and more for his own food and begins to stay away from the camp for longer periods of time. Yet he always comes back to John and the team.
Buck has two sides in The Call of The Wild. One is a wild side, one resulting from being forced into the wild. Being starved and beaten, and needing to fight to survive. The other side is dog-like. He likes the affection he receives from John. He likes being treated well. Buck is the result of receiving the call of the wild.
Great American Novels 