Accomplishments/Failures in the call of the wild book
"The Call of the Wild" is a novel by Jack London published in 1903, which narrates the story of Buck, a St. Bernard-Scotch Collie mix, who is forcibly taken from his comfortable life in California to the Klondike Gold Rush in the Yukon, where he must adapt to the harsh life as a sled dog.
Accomplishments in "The Call of the Wild":
1. Adaptation: Buck's primary accomplishment in the novel is his ability to adapt to the new, brutal environment he has been thrust into. He learns how to survive in the harsh conditions of the Northland and becomes the leader of his sled team.
2. Survival: Buck faces numerous life-threatening challenges and obstacles, from the cruelty of some of his human masters to the aggression of other dogs. His survival through these difficult trials is an accomplishment in and of itself.
3. Mastery: After enduring much suffering and learning through various experiences, Buck becomes a skilled and dominant leader who earns the respect of both his canine peers and human handlers.
4. Returning to Nature: Buck answers "the call of the wild," reconnecting with his ancestral instincts and gradually transitioning from a domesticated pet to a wild creature of the North. This return to nature can be seen as a fulfillment of his inherent potential.
5. Legacy: At the end of the story, Buck becomes a legend of the North, leading a pack of wolves and earning a mythic status among the native peoples and even casual bystanders who glimpse him or hear stories of his exploits.
Failures in "The Call of the Wild":
1. Loss of Domesticity: Buck's removal from his comfortable life in California and his descent into a more primal existence is a form of failure from the perspective of his initial domestic life. He loses his previous identity as a beloved pet.
2. Conflicts With Humans: While adapting to sled dog life, Buck initially struggles with some of the humans he encounters, particularly with those who are cruel and abusive, such as Hal, Charles, and Mercedes. His inability to change their behavior or escape from them initially can be seen as a failure.
3. Scrap with Spitz: Buck's rivalry with Spitz, the original lead dog of the sled team, culminates in a fight to the death. This can be seen as a failure to coexist peacefully within the established hierarchy, albeit necessary for Buck's eventual leadership and survival.
It is important to note that evaluating the events in the novel as "accomplishments" or "failures" depends largely on the perspective of the reader and what they consider to be a success in the context of Buck's transformation and inherent nature.