Naturalism In The Call Of The Wild

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In Jack London’s novel, The Call of the Wild the presence of Naturalism is evident. Burk is a wolf who is personalized to a human; he tells his story like any human would, but through a dog’s eyes. This makes Naturalism easy to portray. London shows Naturalism through characteristics, themes and by supporting the definition of Naturalism throughout the novel. Some characteristics of Naturalism include character’s lives that are dictated by passion, heredity, or instinct, heroic actions, violent deaths, and a plot that has “chronicle of despair” (Campbell). Naturalism shows characteristics of instinct and passion; Burk shows passion when he discovers his love for the woods after John Thorton saves his life. Burk also shows instinct when he becomes the alpha of his dog pack and later when he reverts from being loyal to John Thorton back to being wolf-like. Another situation where Buck shows instinct is when he fought with Spitz, “He fought by instinct but he could fight by head as well” (London 34.) This shows that Buck could judge when to use instinct or smarts. London also places a force of heredity on Burk. Burk, being born into a judge’s house and being spoiled has a rough transition when he was sold and put on a dog sled team. This shows Naturalism because the fact his heredity had him at a downfall when he entered the world of sledding. But also heredity benefited him because he went into being sold and into the pack as wanting to be the top, the alpha and that benefited him when he was sledding with Hal, Mercedes, and Charles and also after the fight with Spitz. Also the attempt of exercising free will and being constricted by forces beyond their control is shown when Burk tries to resist getting beaten by the man with a club in the beginning of the novel. Burk’s journey happens to coincide with being partially a “chronicle of despair” (Campbell) he has low
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