Jack London :: essays papers

Jack capital of the United KingdomA Study of Jack Londons Belief in DarwinismJack London has a strong public opinion in Darwinism, survival of the fittest, during thelate 1800s through the early 1900s, when he wrote. Throughout his writings, manycharacters display Londons belief in Darwinism. In the novel, The Call of the Wild,Jack Londons belief in social darwinism is portrayed by animals interacting withhumans, each other, and the environment. This can be shown through sprout, a suffer dogturned sled dog, interacting with his masters, other dogs, and the Yukon wilderness.As Buck travels from master to master throughout the course of the novel helearns, through trial and error, what port brings rewards, and that which bringspunishment. Buck had never been struck by a club in his life, and did not understand. ...he was now aware that it was a club, but his madness knew no caution. A dozen generation he charged, and as often the club broke the charge and smashed him down (Lon don 18). Buck ...had learned the lesson, and in all his after life he never forgot it. That club was a revelation. ...the lesson was driven home to Buck a man with a club was a lawgiver, a master to be obeyed... (London 20). Buck learned to do as his masters say. ...he grew honestly to respect them. He speedily learned that Perrault and Francois were fair men... (London 21). Buck also learned when and how to defend himself against man. Londons depiction of Bucks struggle to learn how to survive in an unfamiliarenvironment has been compared to western societys struggle with impinge communism. The study of Jack Londons work became a mirror of the turbulent McCarthy era... (Veggian 2). Through these struggles, Buck was able to adapt and survive in a world controlled by man.Buck also had to learn when and how to fight other dogs. Eventually BuckFought and killed Spitz to become lead dog. Buck stood and looked on, the successfulchampion, the dominant fundamental beast who had made his kill and found it good(London 42). London often witnessed these dog fights and this influenced his writing. ...he found the first successful theme for his writing in a last frontier splurge... (Walker 12). Although Buck had troubles with his new peers, he also had a great conflict with his new home.