After the death of Curly in The Call of the Wild, Buck concludes that no fair play exists in his world and that he will never go down in a fight. The theme illustrated here is apparently derived from London's interpretation of


A. Nietzsche's ideas.
B. "might makes right."

C. instincts as ancient memories.

D. the theory of evolution.

I would intrepret B not as Might makes right, but as the powerful are right, and survive.

London has several allegorical themes in this work, the joy of work, the virtue of humanity, the need for companionship, power, loyalty, power of instinct, and survival of the fittest. I assume you could defend these themes of London's with examples.

To answer this question, one must analyze the events in The Call of the Wild and consider the perspective of the author, Jack London.

In the novel, Curly, another sled dog, is killed by a group of huskies in a savage and unfair attack. This event has a profound effect on Buck, the main character. He realizes that the world he now inhabits, the harsh and brutal Klondike, does not adhere to principles of fairness or justice. This realization leads him to conclude that no fair play exists in his world and that he must rely solely on his own strength and instincts to survive.

Now, let's look at the answer choices:

A. Nietzsche's ideas: Friedrich Nietzsche was a philosopher known for his belief in the "will to power" and the idea that power and strength are central to human existence. While Nietzsche's ideas could be seen as influencing the theme in The Call of the Wild, there is no explicit connection between Nietzsche and Curly's death in the novel.

B. "Might makes right": This phrase suggests that the strongest or most powerful individuals or groups determine what is right or just. This concept aligns with Buck's realization that in his world, strength and power are what matter, as evidenced by Curly's tragic fate. This theme is consistent with the events in the novel.

C. Instincts as ancient memories: While the novel does explore the importance of instincts, particularly Buck's transition from a domesticated dog to a wild and instinct-driven creature, it is not the primary theme illustrated by Curly's death.

D. The theory of evolution: The theory of evolution focuses on the idea of survival of the fittest, where organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and pass on their genes. This concept is related to "might makes right" and is hinted at in the novel through Buck's gradual adaptation to the natural environment. However, it is not directly connected to Curly's death or Buck's conclusion.

Given these considerations, the most appropriate answer is B. "Might makes right," as it aligns closely with the events and themes in The Call of the Wild.