"The first theft marked Buck as fit to survive in the hostile Northland environment. It marked his adaptability, his capacity to adjust himself to changing conditions, the lack of which would have meant swift and terrible death. It marked, further, the decay or going to pieces of his moral nature, a vain thing and a handicap in the ruthless struggle for existence(page 17)." This excerpt from The Call of the Wild by Jack London tippifies the character development of the main character, a dog by the name of Buck, the setting, and the theme of the novella.
Since page one Jack London shows the great adaptability and the enormous growth of Buck both mentally and physically, from living in a rich Californian home without a care in the world to the lead dog of a sled crew in The Yukon during the gold rush. Buck is a strong tide-water dog that is stolen and sold to a dog crew for use as a runner for sleds. Buck's resolve had never been tested until he was sold to "the man in the red sweater". When Buck arrived he was beaten severely to teach him a lesson. "He saw once for all, that he stood no chance against a man with a club. He had learned the lesson, and in all his after life he never got for it. The club was a revelation. It was his introduction to the reign of the primitive law, and he met the introduction half-way. The facts of life took on a fiercer aspect; and while he faced that aspect uncowed, he faced it with all the latent cunning of his nature aroused(page 9)." Just like this incident, there were countless other incidents that pertained to how fast Buck adapted and learned. Throughout the first half of this novella, Buck has grown in enormous ways that no person could have ever accomplished so fast. He has learned how to survive in any setting against any animal including humans.
The Call of the Wild takes place in one of the coldest most treacherous places on Earth, The Yukon. The type of setting that this book takes place in controls to a large extent the outcome or turn of events in the book. So many times Jack London mentioned snow, cold, and starving animals. "Six days of exhausting toil were required to cover those thirty terrible miles. And terrible they were, for every foot of them was accomplished at the risk of life to dog and man(page 23)." This was just the daily routine Buck lived through throughout most of the first half of this novel. Buck was willing to adapt to this setting rather than die, and thus with natures hold on this novel the theme is greatly affected.
There are many different themes taking place at once so far into the book. The first major theme shown by Jack London is the theme common to many books about nature; survival of the fittest. "He did not steal for the joy of it, but because of the clamor of his stomach(page 18)." The starvation and need for survival was all brought on by the harsh setting. The largest theme was that of interaction between animals including humans. Buck had many encounters with "the man in the red sweater", "the club", and others with his owners. These encounters caused Buck to respect humans. The Call of the Wild also travels with Buck throughout his many encounters with other dogs/wolves. Because of Buck's need for leadership he is involved in many fights. Also the novella tells about Buck's encounters with nature. These encounters in the Northland cause Buck's "dominant primordial beast" in himself to resurface, and take hold of him.
Buck was being called by the call of the wild. It was his nature to hear the call, his destiny. He was no longer a civilized dog, but a wild beast created by the harsh Northland. His primordial self had emerged. Buck has developed from a sweet innocent house pet to a killing machine king of all beasts. He has learned how to live by the law of “the club and fang”. The hostility of the Northland made him change to survive in the wilderness. His natural influences were in contrast with his civilized behavior.
The Call of the Wild shows Bucks change. It was a gradual change, but an extreme change. Buck had learned, He must master or be mastered; while to show mercy was a weakness. Mercy did not exist in the primordial life. It was misunderstood for fear, and such misunderstanding made for death. Kill or be killed, eat or be eaten, was the law; and this mandate, down out of the depths of Time, he obeyed(page 51). This was his learning's, and this is why he strived to become the leader of the pack. If he did not death would result. That was Buck’s strength; how to learn, and learn fast. “He was older than the days he had seen and the breathes he had drawn(51).” Jack London portrays Buck as a very smart dog. He knew when to steal, and when not to. He knew what dogs and what humans to respect, and which not to respect but rather reign over.
With all of this fierceness in Buck he had a hidden quality; the need to be loved and the need to trust someone. This did not happen until near the end of the novel when John Thornton takes Buck into his home. He shows Buck he loves him, and he gives Buck someone to trust. He could not trust anyone in the wild, because everyone has to fend for themselves. But these needs that John provides Buck gives Buck a feeling of security; a feeling he had not had since he lived in California. Buck would do anything for John, and he does. He killed for John, and he also saved John’s life a couple of times. This shows that Buck knew how to care, and not just how to survive.
However, this type of portrayal of Buck changes very rapidly on the last few pages in the novella. Buck shows that the Northland has changed him forever, and even with short glimpses of Buck’s nicer side he is still a beast. “He was a killer, a thing that preyed on, living on the things that lived, unaided, alone, by virtue of his own strength and prowess, surviving triumphantly in a hostile environment where only the strong survived(65).” Buck transformed again, “Guided by that instinct which came from the old hunting days of the primordial world(67).” Buck can never escape his primordial lifestyle that the Northland created; even though he shows flashes of civilization.
The hostility of nature, and Buck’s will to survive and dominate is what caused Buck’s transformation. This shows how large of a hold the setting has over the theme and character development in The Call of the Wild. Without the harsh conditions of the Northland the events that transpired could not have taken place. Jack London so appropriately named his novella to suit the content, because it is the call of the wild that has a hold over Buck. The call causes Buck to fight for survival, and domination. Because of this he must resort back to his primordial self.