A Naturalism analysis of Jack London's Call of the Wild
Written By: Cleo Cuizon
21 Jun. 2022
Photo Credits: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/02/20/play/review-human-element-beefs-up-dog-tale-call-of-the-wild/| Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.
Table of Contents:
Through humanity's evolving knowledge, nature poses as the superior guardian of the self. From cultural traditions to scientific notions, its form deems unparalleled to the mortal being, where humanity's treatment determines its forces as either a spiritual companion or merciless executioner. Within the aspects of literature, naturalist authors portray this concept in their works. One example would transpire in Jack London's works, where he explores a connection between nature and one's natural roots beyond targeting the visual artistry of the natural environment.
London's "The Call of the Wild" presents this prospect as he centralizes a canine's tedious journey from the civil world into the wild. As the beloved 'man's best friend' evolved from their ancestral origin, the protagonist's reversed development constitutes London's acknowledgment of the natural environment. This demonstration exists in the form of naturalism, where such theory inspired by Charles Darwin brought naturalist writers to believe one's condition is "governed by their instincts and passions as well as the ways in which the characters' lives were governed by forces of heredity and environment" (Zhang 279; Campbell 2017). Through a dog's brutal awareness of his ancestry, the author inputs naturalism's effect on Buck's struggle against nature's forces. Jack London thus utilizes naturalism in The Call of the Wild to emphasize the prominence of man vs. nature in Buck's journey.
From Domestication to Primitivity: How Heredity and Environment Taught Buck More
One element presenting man versus nature pertains to Buck's character development. Originating as a domesticated dog, he upheld a sense of pride in his aristocratic upbringing, solely believing in a lifestyle his father sustained with his human companion (London 6). However, Buck's initial mindset through his text will significantly contribute to his loss of innocence. His life of domestication not only imprints a tribute to his father but to trust humanity and "give them credit for a wisdom that outreached his own." (London 7). However, once he was held captive by the man with the club, it initiated an experience that taught him more than life under a well-attained mansion. As his naivety leads him toward a detrimental situation, such outcomes harshly introduce the primitive law (London 10). The image of humankind diversifies once the man in the club presents what he perceives as reality, for "after his life, he never forgot it" (London 10).
Despite the reader's awareness of Buck as a dog, London creates this reflective method between Buck and humanity in his adventure. As someone experiencing culture shock when moving into a different region, Buck endures a similar idea when landing in the Northland. One example would be sleeping in the snow. As domestication influenced his mindset to sleep under a roof, the uncompromised setting pushed him to accept the primitive ways. A source from Xiaofen Zhang states how naturalist writers emphasize the impact of heredity and environment within human nature and actions, which the protagonist displays despite being an animal (279). Coming from a healthy breed of St. Bernards, Buck could quickly adapt to nature even if he struggled at first (London 65). However, grappling against the forces of nature mainly derives from the differences in lifestyle between domestication and primitiveness, in which he slowly outgrew from this internal conflict. The land's primitive law soon made him realize the difference between the Southland and Northland, "It was all well enough in the Southland, under the law of love and fellowship, to respect private property and personal feelings; but in the Northland, under the law of club and fang, whoso took such things into account was a fool, and in so far as he observed them he would fail to prosper." (London 18). Such realization proves naturalism as heredity and how the environment affects Buck's development. A source from Xiu Zeng could support this idea as she believes that London proved Darwin's theory, "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, but the one most responsive to change." (2018). Buck's development from domestication thus proves naturalism's prominence as he ventures into a world that teaches him more than the human-made society he once credited.
The True Meaning of Survival: The Pivotal Point of Man vs. Nature
As naturalism impales Buck through an unexpected journey, his abandonment of domestication coerces a crucial lesson of the outside world: survival. This element proves the essence of man vs. nature in the story, as his circumstances animate the idea of clinging to one's life. Such input shows London's interest in the "survival of the fittest" theory by emphasizing how nature provides no room for the weak (Zhang 280). Through Buck's struggle and other characters, each instance of violence and bloodshed gave the protagonist a harsh lesson of adaptation to overcome a cruel world. One example includes this scene that centralizes nature and Buck's understanding of reality:
"With the aurora borealis flaming coldly overhead, or the stars leaping in the frost dance, and the land numb and frozen under its pall of snow, this song of the huskies might have been the defiance of life…the articulate travail of existence…It was invested with the woe of unnumbered generations, this plaint by which Buck was so strangely stirred. When he moaned and sobbed, it was with the pain of living that was of old the pain of his wild fathers…the cold and dark that was to them fear and mystery." (London 26)
As the narrator illustrates the environment's uncompromised conditions, Buck resonates with its lamentable tone and the voices of his ancestors singing through the bitter night. A juxtaposing image of the aurora borealis "flaming coldly" in the winter captures a central idea of nature's unmerciful intent behind its beauty. London enhances an antagonistic appearance of the setting as the wolves radiate this sense of sadness within Buck, making him moan and sob with the voices emitting "fear and mystery" (London 26). The author's artistry paints the prominence of man vs. nature. Rather than explicitly stating the character's struggle, London paints this imagery to convey nature's omnipotence.
His technique does not glorify nor trivialize the environment's essence; instead, it presents its significant role in Buck's self-reflection. This idea can be proven through the protagonist, as the narrator directly explains the change of mindset he obtains after living in the Northland, "He did not steal for joy of it, but because of the clamor of his stomach. He did not rob openly, but stole secretly and cunningly, out of respect for club and fang. In short, the things he did were done because it was easier to do them than not to do them." (London 18). Man vs. nature overpowers the character as he succumbs to the primitive law of the natural world. His old ways of morality became unfamiliar as the forces showed him their triviality. Zeng addresses a similar concept as he examines how each savagery helps Buck retrogress from his domesticated origin and strengthens the instinctive wildness within him (2018). Buck's decision to adapt to this lifestyle was not entirely out of desire; it is desperation to live in a world that mocks one's reliance on life.
Nature's Calling: Buck's Symbolism in Man vs. Nature
Another literary element emphasizing man vs. nature includes symbolism. London's method of this element would fall under the last few chapters, where Buck recognizes the natural world's calling. As Buck progresses through his journey, his ancestral roots strengthen, and the conflict between man vs. nature slowly succumbs to the environment's dominance. London portrays this resolution through the protagonist and includes symbolic messages to magnify the world where Buck immerses. It is certain that throughout the story, Buck endures external and internal struggles that arouse a wild nature within him. However, during the last few chapters, London explicates his process of recognizing and accepting its purpose. These phases occur when he encounters a wild wolf in the forest (London 63). The fated meeting offered an opportunity into his ancestral nature and befriended a being that resembled his inner self (London 63-64). But while enjoying himself, he suddenly remembered John Thornton and resumed the conflict between him and nature's calling, "Buck's restlessness came back on him, and he was haunted by recollections of the wild brother, and of the smiling land beyond the divide and the run side by side through the wide forest stretches." (London 64).
Based on the description, the wild wolf would be a physical symbol of the natural world. As Buck tries to understand his existence, the wild wolf appearing before him poses as the guide to his purpose. Fighting against that fate thus resulted in his restlessness and the environment's yearning for his acceptance. The depiction of the "smiling land" and the forest encapsulates naturalism's role in Buck's evolution, as London emphasizes a spiritual concept in his quest. A source from C. Hartley Grattan explains the relation between Buck's transcendent approach and London's ideals, "We have [Buck's] sadistic delight in punishing his opponents and his masochistic delight in punishing himself by devastating labor…He epitomized his rejection of civilization—the call of the wild. He fictionized his spiritual aspiration." (260). Grattan's analysis is evident in this concept; The idea of man vs. nature between Buck and the wild wolf shows how the protagonist immerses in the environment's influence on his consciousness. The wolf's yearning then mirrors London's spiritual aspiration, a desire to listen to nature instead of fighting back.
Nature Wins: The Imagery of his New Life
As symbolism encapsulates Buck's initial process to a new life, the environmental imagery centralizes his complete acceptance of nature's unfathomable power. This central concept skips into the novel's last pages when John Thornton dies and becomes his last tie with humanity (London 70). The climactic scene thus pushes Buck to succumb to the wilderness, as it becomes his only companion. An example from the text shares the protagonist's new form, a being that stands with nature instead of against it:
He crosses alone from the smiling timber land and comes down into an open space among the trees. Here a yellow stream flows from rotted moose-hide sacks and sinks into the ground, with long grasses growing through it and vegetable mould overrunning it and hiding its yellow from the sun; and here he muses for a time, howling once, long and mournfully, ere he departs (London 71).
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