The content

Introduction.....................................................................................................3

1. About the writer (Jack London).................................................................4

2.About the novel (The Call of the Wild)........................................................4

3.A brief summary...........................................................................................4

4.Thematic analysis(the major themes)..........................................................6

Conclusion.......................................................................................................12

References......................................................................................................12
 Introduction

As far as American literature is concerned, the analyzing literary work is so

significant to understand a certain literary piece. As we are concerned this year
with American contemporary literature, we have settled on one of the famous
masterpieces in the twentieth century is "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London.
In this few pages we are going to analyze the themes of this novel as it is
tackling some specific issues which frame London's ideas and thoughts.
1.About Jack London:
Jack London was influenced by new way of thinking. His characters are
often unable to control their own lives. It is a battleground between
uncontrollable forces. It is remarkably that the heroes of some london s novels
are animals. Most of his writings raise the idea of struggle in nature and the
survival of the fittest. The main idea of London is the laws of nature govern
every thing and every body sometimes those things and bodies are defeated by
these laws. So, not surprizingly, in his great and famous novel "Call of the
Wild" tackles this issu and illusrate hwo the dog (Buck) waz driven from
comfortable life to the frozen environment in which all conditions ans nature
power oppose it.

2.About the Novel:

The plot concerns a previously domesticated dog named Buck, whose
primordial instincts return after a series of events finds him serving as a sled dog
in the treacherous, frigid Yukon.
"The Call of the Wild" is one of London's most-read books, and it is
generally considered one of his best. Because the protagonist is a dog, it is
sometimes classified as a juvenile novel, suitable for children, but it is dark in
tone and contains numerous scenes of cruelty and violence.
London followed the book with "White Fang", a companion novel with
many similar plot elements and themes as "The Call of the Wild" .

3.A Brief summary:

Buck, a huge, four-year-old half-Saint Bernard and half-Scottish shepherd
dog, is living a a comfortable life as the pet of Judge Miller in the Santa Clara
Valley of Northern California. For Buck is the most prized animal that the
Judge owns. Around this time, however, the dog is suddenly sold to a
trainer of sled dogs, which were in great demand due to the discovery of "the
gold" in the frozen lands of the Yukon.
 Tragically, for Buck, however, does not adapt as easily as do some of the
other docile big dogs. Buck cannot tolerate being tied up and beaten; he
fights against his cruel new master, but all of his efforts to escape are futile.
Thus, Buck learns the new concept of “master,” even though he learns it
reluctantly: a man with a club is a master and must, at all costs, be obeyed.
After days of travel on both train and boat, Buck discovers that he is in
the primitive North, and there he rapidly learns to conform to the laws of the
primitive new world. For example, he encounters such problems as how to
work as a member of a dog team pulling a sled, how to burrow into a hole in
the snow in which to sleep, how to survive perpetual hunger pains, and how
to rely on his native intelligence and his animal instincts.
Buck also soon learns that the dominant primordial bestial instinct is very
strong in him, and he learns just as quickly that when he is attacked, he must
take the offensive immediately in order to survive; as a result of this type of
living adjustment, Buck also learns that he has to live a life of almost
continual alertness, as well as in almost continual pain and discomfort. Yet
Buck has one advantage: his size makes him fearful to the other dogs. Still,
however, all is far from pleasant, for even though Buck can defend himself
quite well and is ever-ready to scrap with another dog, he has a secret that he
must keep to himself: Because Buck has arrived so recently from
civilization, the craggy ice and snow of the North tear at his paws and make
his work extremely painful.
After being in constant hunger for many days, Buck’s old instinct to kill
and eat raw meat and warm blood is rekindled within him. About this same
time, Buck is constantly pitted against another powerful dog, Spitz, the lead
dog of his sled team. After several skirmishes with Spitz, Buck’s decisive
fight with him occurs, and the result of the fight is a victory for Buck, who
then becomes the lead dog. In his position of leadership, he quickly proves
himself to be superior to all the other dogs and thus wins the admiration of
his masters, François and Perrault, who work with Buck quite some time
before they are called away to other duties.

Buck’s next master is a Scotch half-breed; the man is fair, but he works
Buck almost beyond endurance, so much so that on a difficult run against
extremely adverse conditions, most of the other dogs succumb to the wild
 elements. Buck, however, survives, even though he loses a significant
amount of weight. Buck’s next change in life occurs when he and his team
are sold to three amateur adventurers—Charles, Hal, and Mercedes; they
have absolutely no concept of how to discipline the dogs or even how to
drive a team through the frozen northern snow. As a result of their
ineptitude, the dogs’ food supply is gone before the trip is half over. At this
point, Buck sees the futility of trying to continue; thus, he simply refuses to
return to the trace (the harness) despite the fact that he is severely beaten.
Propitiously, a man named John Thornton appears and threatens the three
owners if they continue.

4.Major Themes:
a. a.Survival of the Fittest:

Jack London believed in Herbert Spencer's theory of "survival of the

fittest," which means basically that an organism or group that is better suited to
an environment will have a better chance for survival than an animal or group
that is less suited. In other words, Spencer suggested that learning did not play a
great role in the survival of a species. More often it had to do with luck -- a
major environmental change would suddenly make one group of organisms
better off than it had been before, and they would therefore live longer and
reproduce more.

London clearly makes use of the idea of "survival of the fittest" in The Call
of the Wild. By chance, Buck's environment undergoes a tremendous change -
he is kidnapped and taken from a "sun-kissed," easy existence to the wilds of the
Klondike. Buck survives because he was genetically more suited to that
environment than many of the other dogs who were there. He did not need to
learn much of anything - the instincts for survival were handed down by his
ancestors -- a more poetic version of genetic inheritance.
 London takes the idea even more literally than is necessary. If Buck had
remained in Santa Clara, he would not have passed on his genetic traits, for there
were no suitable mates available to him. At the end of The Call of the Wild it
reads that "the years were not many when the Yeehats noted a change in the
breed of timber wolves; for some were seen with splashes of brown on head and
muzzle, and with a rift of white centered down the chest." Buck has had many
children, children who will inherit from Buck all of the experience and "fitness"
of their ancestors.

b.The power of Instinct:

This theme also relates to London's interest in Charles Darwin's and Herbert
Spenser's work. For the first time there was a scientific theory, which suggested
that human beings as well as animals have natural instincts which are merely
things passed down through the genetic code. In The Call of the Wild, London
dwells a great deal on animal instinct, for Buck's ability to listen to his instinct
both makes him more and more powerful and draws him more and more deeply
towards the wild. When Buck leads the team into John Thornton's camp, he does
not consciously know why he does not get up. He is as capable of continuing as
the other dogs, and he has no desire to be killed. Instead, he unconsciously
sensed that the snow and ice under his feet were getting weaker and weaker. His
instincts told him to go no further, and he obeyed them, saving his life.

One of the unique features of London's novel is that he also writes about
human instincts. Men like Francois, Perrault, John Thornton and his partners
have shaken off the trappings of civilization, and London implies that this
change allows them better access to their instincts. Consequently, they thrive on
the trail, making it through multiple dangerous incidents because they trust their
impulsive reactions. In contrast, Hal, Mercedes and Charles possess instincts,
like all human beings, but they are so suffused with the notions of civilized life
that they are unable to access them. London emphasizes the value of instincts,
and he certainly presents their reassertion as a positive feature of a more natural,
wilder lifestyle.

c.Loyalty:

When Buck is kidnapped and taken to the Klondike, he learns that loyalty is
a characteristic which differs under the law of Club and Fang. Though this new
kind of loyalty may seem less genuinely good, Buck discovers that it is stronger
and perhaps truer than the loyalty he had understood before. When Buck lived in
California with Judge Miller, loyalty was a noble idea. He certainly felt loyal to
the Judge when he protected his grandchildren or walked steadfastly by his sons.
But his loyalty was not only never tested, he also knew that it would never be
tested.

In the Klondike, Buck discovers that loyalty is not so noble, because it

stems primarily from self interest. His team's and his human leaders' survival
depends upon the behavior of each member of the group. They are fiercely loyal
to their goal and to helping each other, because it is the only way to survive.
When Spitz acts against the best interests of the group by attacking Buck while
they are fending off the foreign huskies, he proves that he is disloyal. This is a
serious charge, because it could lead to the destruction of the entire group. After
that time, Buck finds it easy to turn the other dogs against Spitz, for they know
that he cares more about his own selfish desires for leadership than the survival
of the group. The groups' loyalty is tested again and again, and each time it
proves true. The strength of this loyalty suggests that loyalty based on self-
interest is ultimately stronger and more meaningful than loyalty based on a
noble ideal.

When Buck falls in with John Thornton, he contradicts this idea to some
extent. He loves John Thornton so much that he is willing to do things that are
against his self-interest, even stupid things such as jumping off a cliff. But
London seems to go to some effort to emphasize that Buck performs these acts
out of passionate love, rather than pure loyalty.

d.Power:

In California, Buck believed he was very powerful, for he was the most
important dog in Judge Miller's household. He ruled over all of the other dogs,
and he even believed that he ruled over the people. In the Klondike, he learns
what a hierarchy really is, and he understands that power is truly the power over
life and death. All of the dogs either have power, and must exert it in order to
survive, or they give up their power to a bigger and stronger dog and can merely
hope that that dog will protect them.

Once Spitz fears Buck's power, Buck realizes that he must exert it. The
appearance of power must lead to the assertion of power. The only other option
is death. Buck quickly learns one of the most important laws of Club and Fang.
When Curly is killed for making a friendly advance to another dog, he
recognizes that he is in a world where it is kill or be killed. He immediately
begins to see the world in terms of who he has power over and who has power
over him.

The issue of power exists both in the relations of the dogs among themselves
and in the relation of the dogs and the men. Slowly over the course of the novel
Buck learns that human beings do not have intrinsic power over dogs. When he
asserts his right to leadership of the sled, he imposes his will on Francois, even
though Francois has a club. When he kills the Yeehat Indians, he consciously
acknowledges that he need never fear human beings again. In this world, he is
more powerful than a human being. In light of this view of power, London
suggests that a wild, natural existence is not as free as the reader might imagine.
Buck is free because he is the most powerful, but he must never for a moment
let down his guard. The natural world is dominated by rules and codes just as the
civilized world is, and in this world, Buck can read and understand the subtlest
of controls.

e.Companionship:

One can reframe Buck's journey in The Call of the Wild as a search for
companionship. Buck is never alone in the novel, but instead travels between a
various number of humans and other dogs, often wondering why he is not
completely happy. At the beginning of the novel, Buck does not seem to lack for
anything. One might wonder whether Buck is actually better off at the end of the
novel, if he never felt unfulfilled in his Santa Clara home. But, it seems likely
that Buck was simply young, and as he grew older he would have felt the lack of
true companionship more strongly.

Buck encountered several positive kinds of companionship along his

journey. First Francois and Perrault, then the Scotchmen, engaged him in
meaningful relationships based on work, along with the rest of the dog team.
Though Buck was sometimes tired and uncomfortable, he was fulfilled by his
work. His relationship to John Thornton was obviously superior to these, and it
was at its peak when he was able to work for John Thornton, fulfilled by his
labor and inspired by his love. But, throughout these times, he was restless and
knew something was missing.

Buck always dreamed of his companionship with wild man, because only
that partnership was completely equal. Then, Man and Dog were united by
mutual goals, mutual labor, mutual fears and mutual desires. When Buck meets
the lone wolf in the woods and runs with him for a few hours, he finally
understand the meaning of the call that he has felt. His relationship with the
wolves is like his relationship with wild man. When John Thornton dies, Buck is
free to go with the wolves. He mourns John Thornton, because he loved him, but
the story suggests that Buck's final home among the pack of wolves is the right
one.

f.The joy of labor:

Another idea held by London, which he clearly makes use of in The Call of
the Wild is his belief in socialism. London seems to hold a romantic and general
idea of socialism rather than a radical and specific one. The most important idea
imbued in The Call of the Wild is that everyone is suited to a particular kind of
work, and everyone will be happiest if they are doing that work. London lived
this ideal, for even when he was making a great deal of money as a writer, he
was always trying out new ways of keeping busy and contributing to society,
whether he was exploring new ways of farming or advocating for women's
suffrage.

In The Call of the Wild, London portrays the dogs as happiest when they are
engaged in labor. The more appealing characters, such as Dave and Sol-leks,
come alive only once they have been strapped into their traces, ready to take to
the trail. Dave's refusal to abandon his position is as noble and heart-wrenching
as any human sacrifice, and though it is heartbreaking when he is shot, it also
seems like the kindest course of action. When Buck is leading the sled team for
John Thornton, he becomes restless and a little unhappy only when Thornton
and his partners find gold, and there is little work for the dogs to do. Arguably,
Buck dreams of his ancient master, because only then was he invested in a
human partnership with completely mutual goals, desires and needs. Their work
was the same and it was constant, and there could be no better relationship for a
dog. As much as Buck loves John Thornton, he finds his real happiness roaming
the woods, killing his own food, constantly engaged in the act of defending or
sustaining his life.

London does not make entirely the same point with regard to the humans of
the book. Hal, Mercedes and Charles are clearly unsuited to this work and
should never have undertaken it. Perrault and Francois live for the trail almost as
much as the dogs do. But, John Thornton, probably intended to be the most
appealing human character, seeks gold so that he will no longer have to labor.
One might suggest that London dislikes John Thornton's quest for gold. As he,
his men, and the dogs searched for gold, they were immensely happy. There
needs were met, they enjoyed each day, and they were fulfilled by their search.
As soon as gold was discovered, they labored merely for the recovery of money,
and the work itself was not pleasurable to them. Ultimately, John Thornton's
inability to recognize the true value of life in the wild may have lead to his death
at the end of the novel. While seeking gold, Thornton lost touch with his
instincts and made himself vulnerable to attack.

g.The Virtue of Humanity:

Throughout the novel London questions the idea of humanity as a virtue. He

demonstrates clearly that men do not innately possess any virtues, and that in
some circumstances, men are the most virtuous who have become the least
civilized. He also makes it clear that the virtues assigned to the idea of humanity
fit equally well into the world of animals. The idea of humanity as a virtue (the
quality of being humane) suggests that civilization has allowed human beings to
morally develop further than wild creatures. But, Hal, Mercedes and Charles
represent the most "civilized" people in the novel, and they ultimately act
selfishly and cruelly. Outside of their natural position, humanity seems a fairly
useless virtue.

In contrast, Buck and the other dogs do not generally perform selfless acts or
sacrifice their own interests solely for others; however, they also enforce a strict
code of putting the survival of the group as a whole above the mere survival of
the individual. When Buck meets John Thornton, he does begin to perform
selfless acts, because he is inspired by love, but those acts have nothing to do
with any notion of humanity.

London suggests that the idea that humanity is a virtue is merely a conceit
of human beings. People are no more likely to be genuinely kind or genuinely
careful of others than animals are -- they are simply more likely to try to
disguise their own selfish desires and actions.
Conclusion:

During this research, we have catered for our readers with a thematic
analysisof the novel "The Call of the Wild". In this few pages we have dealt
with jack London's major themes which indeed represents his ideas by using
techniques in portraying his characters (animals) related to the plot.

references
- High B., Peter, An Outline of American Literature, Longman Inc: New York,
1986
- http:∕ ∕www.wikipedia.com.