Why does the author of The Call of the Wild describe Buck's progress as "retrogression"?
1 answer
The author of The Call of the Wild describes Buck's progress as "retrogression" because Buck starts out as a domesticated dog, accustomed to the comforts of civilization, but as he is thrust into the harsh environment of the Alaskan Gold Rush, his primitive instincts resurface and he regresses to a more primal state. This change, while necessary for his survival in the wild, is seen as a regression because he is losing the aspects of his personality that were cultivated by man, becoming more wild and untamed. The word "retrogression" is used to highlight the contrast between Buck's earlier civilized self and his transformation into a more instinctual creature.