STUDYWORLD STUDYNOTES
The Call of the Wild
Chapter 7: The Sounding of the Call
Summary:
As time goes on, Buck's yearning for the wild seems to become
more prevalent. One day, he wanders into the forest near the camp and
meets a lone wolf in the woods. He establishes a friendship and begins
to feel very much at home. Even though enjoys this setting, his loyalty
to John draws him back to the camp.
He continues his visits into the forest and begins to stay
away longer periods of time. One day, after he had been gone several days,
he senses that something was amiss. When he reaches the camp, he finds
Thornton's dogs lying dead on the ground from arrow wounds. He sees several
Indians and attacks one of them. Soon, he is able to chase them away but
he realizes that he has returned too late. The camp is in shambles and
Thornton has been killed.
Buck feels a sense of sadness over the loss of his master
and for a while mourns his loss. In time he realizes that there is nothing
holding him back now and he decides to leave civilization behind. He again
wanders into the forest and feels free to answer his inner call of the
wild.
Review:
This chapter depicts the resolution of Buck's conflict between
the call of the wild and his love for John Thornton.
Buck answers the call of the wild, joining his wolf brother
and the pack. He soon becomes the pack leader but returns each summer
to visit John Thornton's camp.
The myth of the Evil Spirit who lives in a valley - a valley
the Yeehats must never enter - is a result of Buck's attack on the Yeehats.
The Ghost Dog - of legendary size and cunning - is actually Buck himself.
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