What transgressions do the main characters commit in the book The Call of the Wild by Jack London? How does this affect their relationships with the other characters? (Be sure to answer both parts of the questions.).
In the book "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London, the main character, Buck, and some other characters commit certain transgressions that significantly impact their relationships with others.
1. Buck's transgressions:
a) Buck commits the transgression of disobedience when he refuses to listen to his owner's commands and engages in a fight with Spitz, a lead sled dog. This affects his relationship with the other dogs as they witness his strength and independent nature, which gains him respect but also creates fear and intimidation among them. This incident sets off a power struggle for leadership within the dog sled team.
b) Buck also commits the transgression of violence when he kills a fellow dog, Spitz, in self-defense during a brutal fight for leadership. This has a profound impact on Buck's relationship with the other dogs as they fear his strength and capability to harm them. This establishes him as the new leader of the sled team but also distances him from the other dogs, who feel uneasy around him.
2. Other characters' transgressions:
a) François and Perrault, the sled team's human handlers, commit the transgression of harsh treatment towards the dogs by overworking and mistreating them. This affects their relationship with the dogs, including Buck, where fear and submission dominate. Despite this mistreatment, Buck is resilient and progressively earns their respect through sheer strength and survival instincts.
b) The dog drivers, Charles and Hal, commit the transgression of negligence and ignorance by overloading their sleds with supplies and mistreating the dogs. This mistreatment leads to the death of a member of the sled team due to exhaustion. Their disregard for the dogs' well-being strains the relationship between the humans and animals, as Buck and the other dogs resent their treatment and struggle to obey their commands.
Overall, the transgressions committed by the main characters in "The Call of the Wild" create tension, fear, and power dynamics within their relationships. Buck's acts of disobedience and violence reshape his role as a leader but also isolate him from the other dogs. The mistreatment and cruelty inflicted by humans further strain the relationships between them and the dogs, leading to a sense of fear, defiance, and survival instincts.