Call of The Wild

Overview of Jack London and 'Call of the Wild'

Context: This course revolves around the theme of wilderness in American literature, particularly focusing on early American literature.
Jack London: Significant author from the turn of the 20th century, known for his rugged literature inspired by real-life experiences, particularly from the Klondike Gold Rush.
- Life Background:
  - Experienced the Klondike Gold Rush firsthand, which greatly influenced his writings.
  - Also worked as a journalist, with notable experiences including being arrested in Japan during the Russo-Japanese War.
  - Considered a larger-than-life figure due to his adventurous lifestyle and varied interests including social activism and animal rights.
- Death: Circumstances surrounding his death were ambiguous, potentially involving drug overdose or suicide, attributed to the historical context of drug availability at that time.

Publication: The novella 'Call of the Wild' was published in 1903 and became London's first successful fiction work.
Significance of the Time:
- The book is reflective of the end of westward expansion in America.
- It emphasizes the nostalgia for a recently past frontier experience, which was still vivid in the collective memory of Americans.
Perception of Wilderness: London presents the wilderness in the book as a harsh yet beautiful place; depicting struggles between civilization and the wild. This has implications for understanding realism versus romanticism in his writing.

Realism vs. Romanticism: Discussing whether the depiction of wilderness in 'Call of the Wild' leans more towards realism or romanticism.
- Discussion Insight:
  - Characters like Buck (the dog) display anthropomorphism, leading to discussions on instinctual versus cultured understanding of wilderness life.
  - Buck's transformation raises questions about the authenticity of its portrayal – is it romanticized?
Comparative Analysis: Dialogue about how human experiences with wilderness differ fundamentally from animal experiences, particularly using Buck's instincts as a focal point.
- Arguments presented both for and against the idea that humans possess similar primal survival instincts as animals.
- Important note made regarding the instinct vs. intellectual abilities of humans versus dogs.

Respect and Danger: Discussion on Jack London's respect for the wilderness, recognizing its beauty alongside the danger it presents.
- Jack London’s work demonstrates a complex relationship with nature, blending admiration with caution.
Puritan Perspective: Contrast to the romanticized view of wilderness seen in London’s work.
- Early settlers, especially Puritans, viewed the new world wilderness as hostile, often equating it with evil and sin.
- Their experiences reflected a survivalist mindset shaped by constant peril.

Captivity Narratives: Analyzing the typical structure of captivity narratives popularized during the Puritan era.
- Usually involved women who were kidnapped by Native Americans; these stories acted as moral tales reinforcing societal values and religious beliefs.
- These narratives highlight the wilderness as a site of trial, evaluates the transformative power of faith in adversity.
Mary Rowlandson’s Account: Specific mention of Mary Rowlandson’s captivity narrative as a quintessential example.
- Rowlandson captures the duality of human experience in wilderness: both threat and spiritual growth, while revealing the societal norms and expectations of her time.

Cultural Significance: The narratives from this period serve both as personal accounts of struggle and broader commentaries on colonial attitudes toward wilderness, civilization, and indigenous peoples.
Next Steps: Discussion will continue on how themes of survival, morality, and the wilderness evolve in coming texts. The class is set to analyze other narratives and draw connections to the themes established in 'Call of the Wild'.