Call of the Wild: Recollections

This is a bittersweet post for me! Call of the Wild was a monumental book in my childhood, and I found it just as compelling as when I was younger.

This novel was published in 1903 by Jack London. It is viewed as a children's book, but is peppered with dark and violent themes. In fact, as we follow Buck's journey to Alaska, we are introduced to several dog companions. But the deaths of these dogs come just as quickly--a rough reminder that life in the Artic is cruel and unforgiving.

Perhaps the most striking moment occurs with the introduction of John Thorton, who rescues Buck from his prior owners. Thorton was the first to introduce the concept of "love" to Buck. Buck's devotion is solidified with stories of his unwavering tenacity to push any boundary for Thorton himself.

The concept of life and death line up closely with Buck's hesitation between John Thorton and "the Call". Thorton's death was cruel, yet necessary. Thorton's passing is the final blow which severs Buck's remaining ties to the human world. In an ironic twist, this death is allows Buck to fully embrace his wolf-side.

As a child, I remember feeling disenheartened at Buck's fate. As an adult, I look back on this book fondly. At its heart, this is a great American novel, designed to draw the reader in and illustrate the conflict between domestication and wild nature.

I'll end this recollection with a fun fact: the book has 31,7500 words. The publication was followed by White Fang in 1906, which is widely considered as its counterpart. White Fang will be the book that we dive into next! As always, thank you for coming along on this ink journey.