Adaptation In Jack London's The Call Of The Wild

A major theme in Jack London’s classic The Call of the Wild is adaptability is essential for survival because Buck goes from an easy life to a harsh environment. Adapting is a brief development that takes days to weeks compared to evolving which takes years and generations. By adapting, an animal or person could transfer from one environment to another. While all organisms can adapt, some individuals adapt better than others. In the book, Buck learns how to act, he reawakens dormant instincts and embraces the inner feral dog to survive the north.

At the beginning of the book, Buck learns how to act in the north. First, he learns the “Law of Club”. For example, the man in the red sweater bashes Buck into submission with a club. Since, seeing

that any man with a club makes the law, Buck adapts to the law and obeys men who have clubs. Next, Buck learns of the “Law of Fang”. For instance, Buck watched Curly’s death after she lost a fight and was eaten. Since Buck now knows that losing means his demise, he fights to survive. Last, Buck changes his diet and behavior. For example, Buck is sneaky and steals from others. Since he is sly and cunning, Buck adapts to stealing food because he is hungry and eats less. In conclusion, learning how to behave and survive in the north is an adaptation that Buck undergoes in the book’s beginning.
At the middle of the book, Buck’s dormant wild instincts reawaken. First, Buck challenges Spitz for leadership. For example, Buck wants to be the leader of the sled team and uses his imagination to overthrow Spitz in a fight. Since, Buck wanted to be leader, his dormant instincts are to, naturally, be the leader or alpha of the pack. Second, Buck acts more like a feral dog at night. For example, Buck dreams of a prehistoric caveman and howls, instinctively at night. Since Buck dreamt of a caveman it was his ancestral memories in his resurgent DNA; and when he howls, his dormant “wild dog side” has urged him to through instinct. Last, Buck sense danger that the average dog can’t sense. For instance, Hal, Charles, and Mercedes lead the sled team over a thin layer of ice and Buck refuses to continue. Buck doesn’t have to go on because John Thornton saves him. As the team (excluding Buck) rides over the ice, the sled falls on its side which causes Hal, Charles, Mercedes, and the dogs’ deaths. Since Buck’s dormant instincts awaken, he was able to tell if there is potential danger when the average dog cannot. In conclusion, challenges for leadership, acting more feral, and sensing danger are evidence showing that Buck’s dormant wild instincts are reawakened.
At the end of the book, Buck embraces his instincts and inner wild dog side.

First, Buck goes to the woods despite his love John Thornton. For example, Buck sneaks off into the woods to hunt and eat, but then returns to John Thornton’s camp by night. Since Buck is going to the wilderness to hunt, he is beginning to accept his feral dog side. Second, Buck interacts with wildlife. For instance, he encountered a wolf and ran through the forest with him and Buck looks for him the next day. Since Buck looks for the wolf and has ran with him, Buck starts to interact with wildlife. Last, Buck joins a wolf pack. For example, Buck defends himself from the attacking wolf members and is accepted into the group. Since Buck joins a pack and eventually leads it, he embraces his inner wild dog side and instincts. In conclusion, sneaking off into the forest, interacting with wildlife and joining a pack are ways that Buck embraces his dormant wild dog.

In conclusion, learning how to act, reawakening dormant instincts and embracing the inner wild side are ways that Buck adapts to survive in the north. Adaption is vital for living as each live object can develop ways to hold out in any given environment. Survival is dependent on how one thinks and acts in the surrounding

area.