In The Call of the Wild, when London writes about "what a puppet thing life is," it reflects the theme summarized in which of the following statements?
A. Our lives are lived in response to our predetermined fate.
B. The course of a life is determined by pure chance.
C. Each life pits mercy against nature.
D. Every life is based on habit and instinct.
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http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/call/
To determine the correct answer, one should analyze the given quote and understand its meaning in the context of the book. "What a puppet thing life is" implies that life is something controlled or manipulated by external forces, highlighting the lack of free will or agency.
Option A, "Our lives are lived in response to our predetermined fate," does not directly connect with the idea of life being a puppet thing. It suggests that our lives are already determined and that we are merely responding to that predetermined fate, which does not align with the puppet metaphor.
Option B, "The course of a life is determined by pure chance," also does not fully represent the puppet metaphor. While chance can have some influence on a person's life, it does not capture the idea of being controlled or manipulated like a puppet.
Option C, "Each life pits mercy against nature," does not specifically address the concept of life being a puppet thing. It implies a conflict between mercy and nature, which is unrelated to the puppet metaphor.
Option D, "Every life is based on habit and instinct," aligns with the puppet metaphor. The idea that life is based on habit and instinct implies a lack of free will or agency, similar to a puppet following pre-programmed movements.
Therefore, the correct answer is D. Every life is based on habit and instinct.