call of the wild

Question

Explain the transgressions or flaws faced within the story. Be sure to identify the character and give details from the story.

Answer 1

In "The Call of the Wild," by Jack London, the protagonist Buck faces several challenges and flaws throughout the story as he goes from a domesticated dog to a wild one. These transgressions and flaws serve as significant character development elements, highlighting the struggles, growth, and adaptation Buck undergoes.

1. Domestification Flaw: At the beginning of the story, Buck is a well-taken-care-of pet dog living in a comfortable environment. However, this domestication becomes a flaw when Buck is stolen and sold as a sled dog in the harsh Alaskan wilderness. His pampered existence renders him initially unprepared to face the harshness of the wild and the demands of survival.

2. Leadership Transgression: As Buck adapts to his new life, he encounters various human figures who display different leadership styles, both compassionate and cruel. Each leader he encounters represents a transgression or flaw. For example, Buck experiences the leadership of Judge Miller, his original owner, who represents a benevolent leader with morality and compassion. In contrast, the harshness of Buck's new life is epitomized by the transgressions of his subsequent owners, such as the inexperienced Hal, Charles, and Mercedes, who mistreat their sled dogs and constantly push them beyond their limits, leading to disastrous consequences.

3. Primitive Instincts and Violence: As time goes by, Buck's primal instincts surface, and he undergoes a transformation into a more resilient and primordial creature. His internal struggle between civilization and primal instincts is a critical flaw he faces. Buck exhibits territorial animal behaviors, fights with other dogs, and even kills to establish dominance and survival in the wild. While he becomes a skilled and feared dog among his peers for his ability to adapt, this primal instinct also highlights the ambiguous nature of his journey and his uncertainty over his place in the world.

4. The Fight with Spitz: A significant transgression takes place when Buck faces Spitz, the brutal and dominant lead dog of his sled team. Buck challenges Spitz to assert his place within the pack hierarchy, symbolizing his transition from a submissive dog to a leader. Buck's capacity for strategizing, planning, and executing a successful fight showcases his growing adaptability and his determination to survive, while also emphasizing the raw violence that lies within him.

Overall, these transgressions and flaws faced by Buck in "The Call of the Wild" illuminate the struggles of adapting to a harsh environment and the internal conflict between domestication and wild instincts. They guide him on a transformative journey where he discovers his true nature as a wild creature, ultimately leading to his liberation.