Student Question
How does Buck incite mutiny among the dog team in Call of the Wild?
Quick answer:
Buck incites mutiny among the dog team by undermining Spitz's authority. He challenges Spitz's leadership by protecting other dogs from Spitz's harsh discipline, reducing their fear and respect for him. Buck's friendly nature and intelligence gain the trust of the other dogs, leading to increased insubordination. When Buck ultimately defeats Spitz, the team readily accepts Buck as their new leader, recognizing his potential for positive and effective leadership.
Buck creates mutiny among the team of dogs by undermining the authority of Spitz, the leader of the pack.
It is in Buck's nature to lead, and an open enmity develops between him and Spitz, the "lead-dog and acknowledged master of the team". Buck takes every opportunity to interfere when Spitz tries to discipline "shirks" among the dogs. For example, when Pike, a notorious malingerer, does not appear one morning, Spitz is "wild with wrath". When he finally unearths the dog, he flies at him to punish him, but Buck, "with equal rage", puts himself in between. Francois, the driver, must subdue Buck with his lash so that Spitz can do his job and discipline the offender.
In the following days, Buck continues to interfere between Spitz and the team. With "the covert mutiny of Buck, a general insubordination (springs) up and increase(s)" among the dogs. There is "continual bickering...
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and jangling" on the team that previously, under Spitz's leadership, had operated smoothly as a unit -
"The insidious revolt led by Buck had destroyed the solidarity of the team. It no longer was as one dog leaping in the traces. The encouragement Buck gave the rebels led them into all kinds of petty misdemeanors. No more was Spitz a leader greatly to be feared. The old awe departed, and they grew equal to challenging his authority" (Chapter 3).
Why does Buck incite a mutiny in the dog sled team in The Call of the Wild?
Buck creates a mutiny among the members of the dog sled team because he does not like having Spitz as the leader of the team. Buck feels that he has earned that right by now. This happens in Chapter 3 -- "The Dominant Primordial Beast."
Buck has hated Spitz ever since Spitz laughed when Curly got killed earlier in the book. But up to now he has not felt he knows enough to be the leader. So in Chapter 3 he starts to undermine Spitz by protecting the other dogs from him. The more he does this, the less the other dogs fear and respect Spitz.
The dog/protagonist of Jack London's Call of the Wild, Buck does not care for the sled team leader, Spitz, and he realizes that the two will eventually battle it out to the death. Spitz has tried to kill him on several occasions, so Buck keeps a wary eye on the smaller dog at all times. Spitz is also a brutal leader, ready to attack and kill his mates when necessary. Buck is stronger and more intelligent, and his friendlier disposition toward the other dogs will also gain their confidence when Spitz is eliminated. So, when the two finally fight it out and Spitz is left with broken legs, the other dogs are more than happy to tear him to shreds just as he has done other dogs.
How does Buck create a mutiny among the dogs in The Call of the Wild?
Buck creates a "mutiny" by first building credibilty amongst the other dogs (and his masters). He proves himself to be a leader for the good of the group, not simply for selfish purposes. The other dogs recogize this in him. Once Spitz (the antithesis of the type of leader Buck becomes/is) is defeated by Buck, the other dogs accept Buck's ascension to the leadership position.
As the story progresses, the stage is set for a positive leader to assume the helm. The dogs have toiled under Spitz's heavy-handed leadership. It's all they know, so they acquiesce. It's not until they "see the light," i.e., Buck is introduced to the team that they realize Buck's potential to lead them in a more positive, productive way.
Buck seems to sense the needs of the greater good. Both Francois and Perrault realize his potential as well. They let things play out as they know they should. They know that it's only a matter of time before the two types of leadership philosophies come into conflict. The two must battle it out and I think that they welcome Buck's victory.
This same victory could not have come had Buck not proven himself (through his actions). The other animals, witnessing his leadership, were willing to let Buck lead.