Can one person fit into three very different categories? In Call of the Wild, by Jack
London, London proves he is an emphatic naturalist. However, his knowledge of the
areas in which the book is set and of the harsh realities of life show that he also appears
to be a regionalist and naturalist.
London's love for nature is obvious in this novel. The settings are miraculously
vivid with descriptions that could not have just been made in his head. He describes
many different areas over a course of twenty-five hundred miles. However, not only is
regionalism London's area of expertise. The way in which he gives life to Buck and all
the other dogs is astonishing. The reader comes to accept the idea that dogs have deep,
meaningful thoughts to go along with their actions. These ideas are directly tied to actual
things that dogs would actually do.
John Hay Residence
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John BuckAs in the case of Spitz's long lasting and fatal battle
with Buck. The description of the final fight is mesmerizing, London goes inside of both
dogs' heads and gives reasons for all the actions that real dogs would do.
Realism is also a major part of the novel. It is in no way padded with goodness to
leave the reader with a warm sensation in his heart. At times, the way in which beatings
of the dogs are described makes the reader want to close the book. Throughout the book,
Buck is severely abused by humans. Upon being taken from his home to learn to be a
sled dog, Buck is beaten senseless for no reason other that to learn to respect and fear the
man in the red shirt. From this experience Buck learns not to respect, but simply to obey
a man with a club.