Discussion Topic
Buck's lessons and experiences in the Northland
Summary:
Buck's lessons and experiences in the Northland transform him from a domesticated pet into a wild, powerful leader. He learns to adapt to harsh conditions, trust his instincts, and assert dominance. These experiences teach him survival skills, resilience, and the importance of strength and leadership in the wild.
What lessons does Buck learn in chapter two of The Call of the Wild?
The first lesson Buck learned was that he had to really look out for himself amongst all the dogs on the beach. He sees Curly assaulted by a dog she approached in a friendly way. As soon as she is wounded she is attacked by the entire group. She is quickly killed despite the efforts of Francois and other men to get the attackers off her. He quickly learns that he must always be vigilant.
He also learned to accept a harness and learned to pull, something that he would be expected to do for Francois from then on.
Another interesting lesson he learned was that of how to stay warm enough to sleep at night out in the open. He had tried to enter the tent and was chased out but had no idea how to get out of the freezing wind. Luckily he stepped through the snow into...
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a hole that had been dug by another dog and he quickly saw how to do it himself.
As they get on the trail, he also learns to eat everything as quickly as he can. There isn't time to do anything but to wolf down the share that is thrown to him and to quickly steal from others if they are less quick to finish their own.
What has Buck learned in the Northland by Chapter 2 of The Call of the Wild?
Buck is introduced to the law of club and fang. He recognized after Curly is killed that there is no fair play. Once you are down, that was the end of you. He learned to bristle and snarl when he was attacked by the other dogs. When the snow fell that night, Buck learned that he had to dig a hole to sleep in and that the warmth of his body would keep him warm. Buck was placed between Dave and Sol-leks so that he might receive instruction on how to pull the sled. He learned to eat quickly because if he didn't the other dogs would steal his food. He watched the other dogs. He learned from Pike how to steal bacon from Perrault. He learned to bite the ice out with his teeth when it collected between his toes, and "when he was thirsty and there was a thick scum of ice over the water hole, he would break it by rearing and striking it with stiff forelegs" (pg 30) He learned to fight with the cut and lash and the quick wolf leap.
What lesson did Buck learn from the man with the club in "The Call of the Wild"?
In chapter 1, Buck is kidnapped from Judge Miller’s peaceful estate in sunny California and brought to Seattle, where a stout man wearing a red sweater beats him into submission with a club. When Buck initially arrives in Seattle, he is enraged and vows to unleash his fury on the next human he encounters. Four men gingerly remove Buck's crate from the train car as he snarls fiercely inside his cage.
When Buck's cage is opened, he lunges at the man in the red sweater wielding a club and is violently struck to the ground. Buck attempts to charge at the man a dozen more times, only to be beaten back and smashed down by the club. Buck finally gives up and learns an important lesson, which serves as an "introduction to the reign of primitive law." In order to survive in the wild, the mightiest, most aggressive being reigns supreme and should not be challenged. Buck also learns to never challenge a man wielding a club.
Through the man with the club, Buck is introduced to "the reign of primitive law" (Chapter 1). This law says that "those with the greatest physical strength are the rulers" (enotes link referenced below). After being brutally beaten down time and again, Buck understands that he stands no chance against a man with a club. Such a man is "a law-giver, a master to be obeyed". A hierarchy is established, and although Buck's spirit remains unbowed, he knows he must submit if he is to survive (Chapter 1).
What does Buck learn from "the law of club and fang" in The Call of the Wild?
The canine hero of Jack London's Call of the Wild, Buck learns that only the strong survive. He also finds that who possesses the club wields the power. Buck comes to realize that humans are the masters of the four-legged beasts: They supply the food for energy and the fire for warmth. He learns to obey his masters, knowing that these two essentials may be withdrawn and replaced by the club. Buck also learns that among the other dogs, the strongest and craftiest are most likely to live the longest. He soon learns the tricks of stealing food and eating quickly. He also finds that working as a team is good for all of the dogs, so he drives the other dogs just as hard as he drives himself.
Overall, what Buck learns from this is that out here in this new world where he is now living, you have to be strong.
Whenever someone is stronger than you (like the man with the club), you have to be patient and do what they say until you can get to be stronger than them.
Buck learns that if you want to survive, you have to learn all the tricks. You have to learn how to steal food without getting caught. You have to learn how to keep warm. You have to learn how not to get killed in a fight.
So basically, Buck is learning that he is in a dog eat dog world where you have to be as strong as you can be to avoid being hurt or even killed.