Read this excerpt from The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

Question

Buck had been purposely placed between Dave and Sol-leks so that he might receive instruction. Apt scholar that he was, they were equally apt teachers, never allowing him to linger long in error, and enforcing their teaching with their sharp teeth. Dave was fair and very wise. He never nipped Buck without cause, and he never failed to nip him when he stood in need of it. As Francois's whip backed him up, Buck found it to be cheaper to mend his ways than to retaliate. Once, during a brief halt, when he got tangled in the traces and delayed the start, both Dave and Sol-leks flew at him and administered a sound trouncing. The resulting tangle was even worse, but Buck took good care to keep the traces clear thereafter; and ere the day was done, so well had he mastered his work, his mates about ceased nagging him. Francois's whip snapped less frequently, and Perrault even honored Buck by lifting up his feet and carefully examining them.

How does Buck’s behavior support the theme "one must lead with a firm hand”?

Buck learns quickly because Dave never nips without cause.
Buck becomes a leader because other dogs respect his authority.
Buck learns quickly because his teachers are strict and unforgiving.
Buck excels because he remembers the man with the red sweater.

Answer 1

Buck's behavior supports the theme "one must lead with a firm hand" through the statement: Buck learns quickly because his teachers are strict and unforgiving.

In the excerpt, Buck’s swift adaptation and improvement in his work under the instruction of Dave and Sol-leks illustrate the effectiveness of a strict and disciplined approach to training. The sharp nips and the backing up of Francois's whip reinforce the idea that firm guidance leads to better learning and performance. Buck recognizes that it is more beneficial to modify his behavior than to face the consequences of his errors, which highlights the significance of strong leadership in his development.