In the story Call of the Wild.Why did "Black" Burton punch John Thorton?
In the story "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London, "Black" Burton punched John Thornton as an act of revenge. Before the event, John Thornton had intervened in a dispute between Burton and another man named Jim O'Brien. Thornton had saved O'Brien from being killed by Burton, who was known for his violent and aggressive behavior. As a result, Burton held a grudge against Thornton and saw punching him as an opportunity to settle the score.
In order to answer that question, we need to understand the background and events leading up to the incident in Jack London's novel, "The Call of the Wild."
John Thornton is the protagonist of the story and the owner of Buck, the main character, who is a sled dog. While traveling together, Thornton and Buck often encounter other characters and situations that test their resilience and loyalty towards each other.
"Black" Burton is one of those characters, and he is portrayed as a violent and aggressive person. He was part of a group of men known as "Hal's team," who were also traveling with Buck and Thornton.
The incident where "Black" Burton punches John Thornton occurs when Hal, the leader of the group, tries to force Buck to continue pulling the sled, even though Buck is exhausted and unable to do so. Angry and frustrated, Thornton intervenes and argues with Hal, asserting the need to give Buck a rest.
During this altercation, "Black" Burton takes it upon himself to defend Hal's position by physically attacking Thornton. The punch is an impulsive act of aggression, reflecting the tense and volatile atmosphere within the group.
To fully comprehend the reasons behind "Black" Burton's action, it is essential to read the relevant chapters in the novel, specifically Chapter 5, titled "The Toil of Trace and Trail." This chapter provides pertinent details leading up to the incident and offers further insight into the dynamics between the characters involved.
This book is a very easy read. If you cannot find the answer in the book itself, maybe the Sparknotes on the story will help you:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/
Click on C and find the title. Then read carefully. You may have to read both the summary of the story and character analyses, but I doubt it.