《The Call Of The Wild》

21 Diary

The call of the wild is a famous novel written by Jack London, an American author who lived from 1876 to 1916.He also wrote《White Fang》and《The Sea Wolf》.This story is about Buck, a heroic, worthy, Ghost Dog. Buck, the main character, is the son of a Saint Bernard and a Scotch Shepherd dog, because of this, he has the appearance of an extraordinary large dog that looks similar to a wolf.

At the very beginning, Buck had a very comfortable life in California with his master Judge Miller. He had everything, enough food, tasty water, kind friends. But Buck can’t read newspaper, he didn’t know that trouble was coming for every big dog in California. Men had found gold in the Yukon, and these men wanted big, strong dogs to work in the cold and snow of north. Then his cruel life began with a terrible abduction.

After several days, he was in the north.

His work was to pull sleds with other dogs, there was no piece, no rest—only continual noise and movement, that, was not easy. He knew the law of club and tooth. He saw the dogs dying, fought against evil dogs, scavenged for food, adapted himself to the coldness and engaged in power struggle with other dogs for the lead position in the sled team. He quickly made his owner knew that Buck was a real fighter, his enemy fought like a wolf, and he fought like ten wolves. He became the leader. They pulled in their harness very hard, started in the morning before it was bright and stopped in the evening after dark.

After he was beaten badly by another stupid owner, a man saved his life from the club, he was John Thornton. There was a peaceful, lazy time for both man and dogs. For the first time in his life, he got the love from a man, and for the first time, he learned to love, heartily. He loved John Thornton not only because he saved his life, but also because he was a very kind man who was naturally good to animals, took good care of his dogs just as they were his

children, or his friends. Buck had saved the man’s life twice and made fourteen hundred dollars for him in five minutes.

But something was changing in Buck, his dreams were filled with other animals—dogs, half-wolves, and wild wolves. They seemed to call him into the forest, sometimes Buck wanted to leave the fire and answer the call. But every time he went into the trees, his love for Thornton brought him back. It was only Thornton who stopped him going into the forest.

But one day, the only tie with men broke up, Thornton was killed by Yeehats. Buck went into a beastly mad and killed several members of the native tribe. With the respect and appreciation to Thornton, Buck went back to the wildness, and became a member of them.

I was deeply moved by it. It shows how an obedient dog turned to a wild beast. Animals and people can have the relationship of friends, just like Buck and John Thornton; animals and people can have love between each other, just like my “Shift” and me; animals and people can trust each other, can help each other; can live with each other……

With this love, we can, have a better life!

 

第二篇：A View on the Theme Analysis of The call of the Wild

　　　　　　　　　　　　　台声?新视角　2005?8　　　　　　　　　　

学术前沿

AViewontheThemeAnalysisofThe□　calloftheWild

WangXiangling

(SiasUniversity　Xinzheng?Henan　451150)

Abstract　ThispaperanalyzesthethemeofTheCalloftheWildfromhuman’sliving,workingand

feelingperspectives,whichrevealstherelationshipbetweenanimalworldandhumansociety.The

animalworldisactuallyareflectionofhumansociety;theyaresimilartoeachother;whatexistsintheformeractuallyalsoexistsinthelatter.Keywords　animal　humanity　reflection

中图分类号:J90　　　　　文献标识码:A　　　　　文章编号:1002-(2005)08-173-　　TheCalloftheWild,isoneofJackLondon’smostpop2ularnovels.Itapparentlyisadog’sstory.Inthedeeppart,LondonmakesareflectionoftherealhumanlifeBuck’slife.Hetreatsanimalslikebeingslikeanimals,notweenmanandanimal.Jofanimalandnovelstrikingvitalityandpower.Afterit,couldnothelpponderingoverhisownlifeaboutwhatistherealmeaningofhumannaturethatalwaysresoundsintheinnerheartlikethecallfromthewildappealingBucktoreturntoitsarms.Buck’sstoryinfactisahuman’slifestory.Someinterestingcomparisonswillshowhowamazinglysimilarthesetowworldsare,andsomeinspirationscanbedrawnfromthisal2legoricstory.

1Peoplecaneasilyfindahumanbeings’survivingexpe2riencesinthesocietyfromBuck’sone.Untilheiskidnapped,Bucklivesthelifeofasatedaristocrat.Hiseducationintotheharshrealitiesofanunprotectedlifebeginsshortlyafterheisabducted.Inafeverofpainandrage,Buckmeetsthemanintheredsweater,whoprovidesthefirststepofhisini2tiationintothewild.Buckhadneverbeenstruckwithaclubinhislife,butagainandagain,heisbroughtcrushinglytothegroundbyaviciousblowoftheclub.Althoughhisrageknowsnoboundsandalthoughheisalarge,powerfuldog,heisnomatchforamanwhoknowshowtohandleaclubef2ficiently.Buckthuslearnshisfirstlesson:amanwithaclubisamastertobeobeyed.“Thatclubwasarevelation.Itwashisintroductiontothereignofprimitivelaw,andhemettheintroductionhalf-way”.Havingseenadogthatwouldnei2therobeynorconciliatekilledmakesthealternativescleartohim:toobey,toconciliate,ortodie;andBuckisaboveallasurvivor.Heknowsheisbeaten.Thisisobviouslyaman’sunfortunatelifestory’sbeginning.Themaninhischildhoodhaslivedawealthy,comfortablelifetotallywithoutworries,thushehasbeencontent,proudandatthesametimeinno2cent,thatiswhytheaccidenthappenseasily.Afterbeingbe2trayedbyhisfriend,heslumpsintoamiserysituation.Atthebeginningofit,heneitherunderstandsnorbelievesit.Heissufferingandangry,heresistsboldlywithhopestore2covertohisformerlifebutheisfrustratedagainandagain

andfinallyhashintotheplacewhenCurly,hisfriend,ishuskieswhenshemakesfriendlyadvancestoofthem.Intwominutes,sheisliterallytorntopieces.“Sothatwastheway.Nofairplay.Oncedown,thatwastheendofyou.”.ThisismanBuck’ssecondgreatlessoninhisnewlife.Thoughmanypeopleexperiencethesamemiser2ysituation,theyhavenosympathiestoeachother.Oncegiv2enthechance,theyalsoplaythepositionofthestronger-usingtheirstrengthtobullytheweaker,crushingtheweakerintopieces.“Hemustmasterorbemastered;whiletoshowmercywasaweakness.Mercydidnotexistintheprimordiallife.Itwasmisunderstoodforfear,andsuchmisunderstand2ingsmadefordeath.Killorbekilled,eatorbeeaten,wasthelaw.”Itseemsonlyonelawworksintheworld,bothmenandbeastsobeying-thelawofclubandfang,inanotherword,onlythefittestcansurvive”.

2peoplecanalsoseethetruththroughBuck’sworkingexperiences.Buckhasfoursetsofmastersinturn,andtheyareactuallythefourtypesofbossespeopleprobablymeetinlife.

Initially,cometheessentiallyfairandefficientgovern2mentcouriersFrancoisandPerrault.Undertheiradministra2tionBuckcomesintohisownagain.Hegraduallygetsprideinhisworkandlongstogaintheleadershipintheworkinggroup.“Buckwantedit(leadership).Hewanteditbecauseitwashisnature.”AfterSpits’death,BuckprotestsagainstPerrault’sarrangementofputtingSol-leksintheleadingpo2sition.Hewantsto“havetheleadership.Itwashisbyright.Hehadownedit,andhewouldnotbecontentwithless.”ItiseasytoreproducemanBuck’sworkingexperience:Sinkingfromthewealthylifetothepresenthardlife,hemusttoworktoearnhisbread.Hisfirstbossisfairandim2partial;therefore,heisabletodevelopprideinhisjobthoughitisnoeasywork..Heevencultivatestheambitiontogettheleadershipofhiswork,andafterseverecompeti2tion,hewinsit.

Laterthe“scotchhalf-breed”inchargeofthemailtrainisalsojustandrespectsthedogsandsparesthemwhatsufferinghecan.HoweverBuck’ssituationworsens:“Itwas

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amonotonouslife,operatingwithmachine-likeregularity.Onedaywasverylikeanother.”Inthehumanworld,there2alityisalsolikethis.Peoplehavetoworktediouslydayafterday,andeachdayisveryliketheother.Eachdaypeoplegetup,havedinner,gotowork,thenreturnhomeatacertaintime.Almosteverythingisfixed.Tomakeitworse,manypeople’sworkisnotdesirableanduncreative.Peopledoitjusttoearnhisliving.Thereisnopleasureinsuchajob,however,peoplehavetotakeitfortheirlivingandfortheirresponsibility,justlikeBuckwho“didnotlikeit,butheboreupwelltothework,takingprideinit,andseeingthathismatesdidtheirfairshare.”

Mercedes,Charles,andHalhavenorespecttothedogs,andaremadefortheworstoftheboss:“Buckfeltvaguelythattherewasnodependinguponthesetwomenandthewoman.Theydidnotknowhowtodoanything”,and“theycouldnotlearn.Theywereslackinallthings,withoutorderordiscipline.”Suchkindofpeopleiseverywhereinthehumanworld.Manyhighstatusleadersknowlittleofthepracticalwork,buttheycommandthesubordinatorstosub2mittothemabsolutely.Theydonotrespecttheircolleagues,refusetoacceptadviceandtooarroganttolearnfromothers.Whenthereisnoharmtotheirownbenefit,someofthemappearsympathetic,indulgentbutwithoutdiscipline,thustheycausethedisorderoftheworkcircumstances.Whenitcomestoharmtheirowninterests,theyexposetheirselfishnature.Theydonotconsidertheworkers’welfareandforcethemtoworkunderbadconditions.2istration,evenBuckloseshisforwork:“Buck,stillen2forcingit.Then,theidealmaster,who“sawtothewelfareofasiftheywerehisownchildren,becausehecouldnothelpit.”JohnThorntonstandsfortheidealboss,whoiswise,trustworthy,knowshisbusinessclearly,andtakescareofhisunderlings,butaboveall,hepossessesfatherlylovetohissubordinators,whichwilldefi2nitelybereturned.

3PeoplecanseesomethingfromtheemotionalaspectofBuck.Buckhasalltheemotionshumanbeingspossess.Attheformerlifeheisproudandcontentfor“hewasking-kingoverallcreeping,crawling,flyingthingsofJudgeMill2er’splace,humansincluded.”Whenilltreated,hefeelsan2gry,buthasconfidenceinhisownabilityandwantstoretali2ate,“Hewasgladforonething:theropewasoffhisneck.Thathadgiventhemanunfairadvantage;butnowthatitwasoff,hewouldshowthem”.Sinceheisyoung,inexperi2enced,itisnaturalforhimtogrowirrationalandhotheadedwhenmeetingfrustrations,“Thistimehewasawarethatitwastheclub,buthismadnessknewnocaution.Adozentimeshecharged,andasoftentheclubbrokethechargeandsmashedhimdown”.Whenherealizeshissituationisun2changeable,headmitshisfailurebutkeepshisdignity,“Hewasbeaten(heknewit);buthewasnotbroken”;“Amanwithaclubwasalaw-giver,amastertobeobeyed,thoughnotnecessarilyconciliated.”Heisasambitiousasanyhumantostrivefortheleadership,“Buckwantedit(leadership).Hewanteditbecauseitwashisnature.”Butaboveallthings,Buckhasakindofstronglove,thatisfeverishandburning,thatisadoration,thatismadness.WhenJohnThorntonarouseshislove,hisattachmenttothismasterissostrongthathefearstobedepartedfromhim:“Eveninthenight,inhisdreams,hewashauntedbythisfear.Atsuchtimeshewouldshakeoffsleepandcreepthroughthechilltotheflapofthetent,wherehewouldstandandlistentothe174

soundofhismaster’sbreathing”.Whenheisstronglycalledbythenaturetoreturntotheforest,hestillremainsatThornton’scampbecauseofhisgreatloveforhim.

AnotherimportantfeelinginBuckishisresponsetohisnature-thecallofthewild.Thecallsoundsinthedepthsoftheforest.“Itfillshimagreatunrestandstrangedesires.Itcausedhimtofeelavague,sweetgladness,andhewasa2wareofwildyearningandstirringsforheknewnotwhat”.Buckiseagertoseekforthemysteriouscallthatcalls,wakeorsleeping,atalltimes,forhimtocome.Actuallythecallofthewildstandsforone’snature-thehumannatureforsimple,easygoing,independentandfreelife.Althoughthemodernsocietyisprosperousandpeoplecansavormaterialenjoyments,fewpeoplefeelhappyandcontent.Mostpeopledothetediousworkdaybyday.Uncreative,uninterestingastheworkis,theyhavetocontinuedoingsojustinordertoliveon.Afewbetter-offpeopleareabletoliveanunwor2riedlifematerially,butstillseldomfeelhappybecausetheyarecaughtbyasenseofvoidandcannotfindoutthemeaningofliving.Allthepeopleareactuallyandspirituallylost.Hu2manbeingscreateatremendoussocialmachineinordertolivecomfortablyandenjoyably,butonlytofindbeingcon2trolledbyitandonceitstarts,notoTheyarekeepandthosewhosuchpressing,Theydesirethattheirnaturerootsin.Ifone-fulloflove,runningatorder,andfairplay,itisstillbearabletoliveinitthoughworkingunderhighpressure.Oncesuchidealplanbankrupted,thereisnoreluctancetoabandonitatthepriceofgivingupluxuriousmaterialenjoymentsandconvenientmodernfacilitiestoliveasimple,self-dependent,spiritual2lyfreelife.Buck’slovetoJohnThorntoncanalsobetakenasthelovetotheidealcivilizedsociety.ThatiswhyBuckhesi2tatestocometotheforestinspiteofhisstrongdesiretodoso.Oncehishopeforsuchasocietyiswrecked,thereisnoboundofhisdesireforfreedom.He,therefore,returnstotheforestandbecomesawolfafterJohnThornton’sdeath,“JohnThorntonwasdead.Thelasttiewasbroken.Manandtheclaimsofmannolongerboundhim”.Infact,Buckdoesnotdothiswithoutregret.JohnThornton’sdeath“leftagreatvoidinhim,somewhatakintohunger,butavoidwhichachedandached,andwhichfoodcouldnotfill.”Peo2pleresorttolivinginanaturallifebecausetheycannotfindtheirwayinbuildingtheirideallife.

TheCalloftheWildexposestheessenceofhuman’slife:fromthesocietyperspective,thereseemstobeonlyonelawinthisworld,whichbothmenandbeastsobey-onlythefit2testcansurviveinthestronglycompetitiveworld;fromtheindividualperspective,peoplealwaysyearntogetridofthestrainingmodernliferhymetoliveasimple,quietandfreelife.Infact,thesocialmachineistoopowerfultobees2caped,andpeoplecanseetheirownnatureinthisnovel,thatiswhythenovelcausessuchagreatresonance.

References:

1.London,Jack.ThecalloftheWildNewYork:BantamBooks,1981.

2.Tavernity-Courbin,Jacqueline.“ThecalloftheWild:JackLondon’sAnimalandHumanJungle.”AmericanrealismandNatu2ralism.Ed.DonaldPizer.NewYork:CambridgeUniversityPress,1995.240-244.

3.Stone,Irving.SailoronHorseback:TheBiographyofJackLondon.Cambridge,MA:HoughtonMifflin,1938.