The Call of the Wild by Jack London | In-Depth Summary & Analysis

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Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth analysis of the plot, characters, symbols, and themes of Jack London's novel The Call of the Wild.

Set primarily in the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush, The Call of the Wild follows the experiences of Buck, a St. Bernard and sheepdog mix, as he is kidnapped from his easy domesticated life and forced to work as a sled dog.

Buck goes through a series of owners, who mistreat him in various ways—beating and overworking him as they too struggle to make their way in the harsh Arctic wilderness.

He displays remarkable fortitude for an animal who once lived life as a pet.

Growing tired of the abuse doled out by another dog, the leader of the sled team to which he is hitched, Buck and the other dogs kill him.

He is eventually saved by a kind man, who he grows to love. When his new master is killed, he reverts to his wild state and joins a wolf pack as its new leader.

American writer Jack London’s The Call of the Wild was first published in 1903. London was one of the most prolific, popular, and romanticized writers of his time. The Call of the Wild was based on his experiences as a prospector in the Yukon. An instant favorite, it garnered London lasting fame and was followed by many other novels, including the adventure tale White Fang.

The adventurous novel The Call of the Wild contains many important themes including law and order, as when Buck’s situation changes, he encounters different rules by which he must live; civilization versus the wild, as Buck’s journey from domesticity to embracing his more primitive self is a central tension; belonging, as Buck’s relationships with humans and other dogs shape his ability to fit into their worlds; and knowledge and power, as both instinctive and learned knowledge help Buck gain dominance.

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