Naturalism In Jack Londons

A detailed Summary of Naturalism In Jack Londons

Naturalism in Jack London's "The Call of the Wild"

Naturalism is a sect of literature that endeavors to apply the scientific principles of detachment and objectivity to the study of human nature. It is a subset of realism, but does not focus primarily on literary technique. Its main focus is the scientific laws behind a characters actions and resolutions. This style of literature not only concerns itself with how a character develops, but also with the forces that drive the character ("Naturalism").

Jack London was born in 1876 to an unmarried mother. He was raised by an ex-slave throughout most of his childhood because his mother, Flora Wellman, was ill. During his youth, London worked many different jobs, including oyster fishing and patrolling for fish poachers. He also sailed on a ship in the Pacific Ocean, train hopped around America, and then finally returned to attend high school at the age of nineteen (Stasz).

After a winter in the Yukon, London began producing a few stories for the Overland Monthly. After this small success, he became a disciplined and successful writer. He went on to produce hundreds of short stories and the two books that brought him lasting fame, The Call of the Wild, and White Fang (Stas

The power of instinct and ancestral memory is a prominent theme in the book. These forces are important in understanding the dynamics Buck shows in turning away from what he has known since birth. They show a rejection of the easy and aristocratic life he had led for the ancient life led by his ancestors; a time when people lived off of the land and lived by the code of the survival of the fittest.

As the story progresses, Buck starts to rely more on his survial instincts than on what he has been taught since birth. His premonition of impending doom during the last part of chapter five is an example of this. He follows this instinct instead of the commands of the men that are in the sled crew, and is saved from their fate. This event is the beginning of Bucks final departure from the laws of man towards the laws of nature (London).

The conditions of the Klondike are fierce. There is significantly less food available to Buck than what he is used to. Before he ate at regular intervals and had ample servings. Now he eats whenever the men feed him, and the meals have to be rationed out to make them last the journey. During the first journey across the wilderness, Buck learns that in order to survive he must eat his food quickly before the other dogs steal it and eventually learns how to steal meat from the men (London). London is clearly using Darwin's "survival of the fittest" theory to shape Buck.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Call Wild, Indians Indians, Wild Naturalism, Spitz Buck, Fang Stasz, London London, Wild Buck, Overland Monthly, Flora Wellman, Pacific Ocean, call wild, survival fittest, bucks final departure, bucks final, nature london, inherited nature, buck violence, final departure, building farm, laws nature, buck learns,

Approximate Word count = 1206
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English