The Call of the Wild: A Struggle for Freedom

‘The Call of the Wild’ is a book by Jack London that is set in the midst of the gold discovery that influenced large masses of people to travel into Canada's regions hunting for gold. The narration follows Bucks story in his journey as a sled dog whose demand increases after the discovery of gold. The author employs different ideas in his writing that elaborate on how different experiences are applied to show the hard life of Buck. Buck takes difficult tasks than his ability thus risking his safety and life. An individual's perspective about life changes through experiences of taking potential risks, seeking freedom and joy.

Jack London uses Buck as the protagonist of the story to expose various concepts that surround Buck’s life are influenced by the call of the wild. It is evident that dogs are treated as domesticated animals that rely on humans. However, Buck and other dogs are engaged in challenging roles without any humans to take care of them. For instance, when the gold hunters run short of dog food, the dog form a group where buck is the leader. The author suggests that the new dogs were afraid while buck and the old ones knew what their masters lacked the skill to guide them. London states, “ Not only did they not know how to work dogs, but they did not know how to work themselves” (80). It is a wild idea to assume that dogs are more competent than humans keeping in mind that they do not have sense like human beings.

At some point in the narration, Buck is freed from his bad masters by John Thornton during one of the trips and becomes committed to his new master. The author uses the story of Buck to elaborate different themes that expose the challenges and risks that the dog endures due to the growing desire of the wild in his master. Thoronton freed Buck but after a while, his demands from the dog increased pushing him back to a state that limits his happiness as a domesticated animal. Buck and the other dogs endure challenges in the hands of their masters and the harsh life that surrounded them. The author states, “Though unpursued, they were in a sorry plight”(37). That statement shows how Buck and the other dogs lived a life of fear because the humans failed in their duty to care for them. On the opposite, the dogs took upon themselves more difficult tasks than their ability thus risking their safety and life in general.

As the story advances, the author outlines another idea that matches the topic as Buck Joins the wolves where he plans to become their leader. It is a wild idea because, in reality, wolves are recognized to be bigger and fiercer than dogs. In that case it's not convincing for a dog to lead a pack of wolves despite its popularity in fighting humans and other dogs. In the story, the author postulates that “ Here and there Buck met southland dogs, but in the main, they were the wild wolf husky breed”(46). These creatures turned Buck from a civilized dog to a bloodthirsty wild dog.

The Call of the Wild discusses various ideas using the dogs and humans to support the topic of the story . the dogs engage in acts that need skills and reasoning like human hence struggling to live that kind of life. Buck serves as the lead dog where the team of the dog is sold to various gold hunters who end up treating them brutally, putting their lives at risk. Jack London uses the idea of the dog moving away from humans to find freedom in the wild. A dog as a domesticated animal should be better in the care of humans. However after the death of John Thronton, Buck feels the loss of his master. However it moves him away from the civilization which gives him a feeling of freedom. Buck went through lots of rough experiences risking his life and safety to find freedom. His perspective changed throughout his journey, once a civilized dog to a bloodthirsty creature. An individual's perspective about life changes through experiences of taking potential risks, seeking freedom and joy.