“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, but the most adaptable” (Charles Dickens). In The Call of the Wild by Jack London, Buck starts as a soft, well cared for house pet in the sunny state of California. His life changes drastically when he is kidnapped and forced to labor as a sled dog in the Yukon. Buck has to adapt in many ways to survive his new and dangerous life. The theme of The Call of the Wild is one must adapt to new changes. Buck adapts to how humans in the Yukon treat him, the new merciless environment, and When Buck first arrives in the Yukon, he is accustomed to being well fed and treated as royalty by his owners. He was the dominant beast. “ And over this great demesne Buck ruled” (2). This all changes in the Yukon. When he is being transported, Buck is kept in a small cage and is …show more content…
After being sold by Francois and Perrault, Buck has to adapt to his new owners. When he is taken charge of by a Scottish man Buck and his team’s work changes. “ It was no light running now, nor record time, but heavy toil each day, with a heavy load behind; for this was the mail train, carrying word from the world to the men who sought gold under the shadow of the Pole ” (45). Buck is used to working with his team with Francois and Perrault guiding them. Buck has to adapt to the new owner and the much heavier work. When he is sold again to the very inexperienced owners he adapts once more. After leading miserably on measly, innutritious rations, Buck and his team stagger into John Thornton’s camp. This is the first time Buck has ever failed his owner. Knowing that they are headed for certain doom, Buck refuses to rise. This shows a massive change in his attitude. After being “broken” by the man in the red sweater, Buck had never questioned any human’s authority before. He has adapted to a lifestyle more like the wild animal he becomes at the end of the book, one where he no longer obeys men and their