
Title:The Call of the Wild
Author: Jack London (and Nick Bullard rewrite)
Main characters: Buck (a dog)
A Summary of the Book
This is a novel by the American author Jack London, published in 1903.The novel remains London’s most famous work, blending his experiences as a gold prospector in the Canadian wilderness with his ideas about nature and the struggle for existence.The novel was set in 19th century Klondike Gold Rush, in which sled dogs were bought at generous prices. Buck was a domestic dog in Judge Miller’s home and living a comfortable life until he was sold secretly by the poor gardener and become a sled dog. Buck was a Bernard dog weighed one hundred and forty pounds, tall, strong and heavy muscled. He couldn’t accommodate to the harsh condition at first. And he wanted to fight, to escape, to go back to his cozy home, but in vain. The main in red taught him the law of stick and club—one must first adjust himself to his surroundings and learn the rules, and only after that he can do what he wants to do. The club of the main in red called back Buck’s nature as a dog. When he firstly served for Franois and Perrault two couriers, he showed his superior ability to adapt to the environment and his smartness to learn everything he wanted to learn. But then Buck hearded the wolf cry at night, let Buck’s heart desire to return to the wild. So he ran away and found a pack and wants to be in them. Buck was harnessed as a sled dog and step by step wanted to be the leader.
My View on the Book
When you read the story, you will feel that Buck is a man instead of a dog, struggling with his fortune and confronting to the law of nature. Though short, it is really a thrilling story, what you never forget is the tough life in the nature, the brave and crafty dog. Maybe the wild is calling you to go ahead. Buck, he sings a song of the younger world, which is the song of the pack. Buck in the wild just as a man in the society must do what he had done for survival. And the story also told us that we must adapt ourselves to the society –learning the rules, learning the necessary knowledge and keeping forging ahead. Otherwise we will lag behind and be obsolete. That is the life.
