The Connotation of“Return”in The Call of the Wild《野性的呼喚》中“歸來”的內(nèi)涵

PAGEIIITheConnotationof“Return”inTheCalloftheWild摘要《野性的呼喚》是杰克·倫敦的第一本暢銷書，也是二十世紀(jì)早期美國最受歡迎的小說之一。這是一部使作者享譽(yù)文壇的作品，雖然它只有簡單的情節(jié)但是它被看作是美國文壇的典范。文章生動(dòng)地分析了杰克·倫敦作品主題的特點(diǎn)，那就是對人與自然沖突的描寫。就《野性的呼喚》這本書來說，它的主人公巴克最終的回歸行為是作者渴望自由的象征，也是在當(dāng)時(shí)社會(huì)環(huán)境下受壓迫人們的迫切愿望。它指出了作者的寫作思想，那就是人們在與自然斗爭中展示出的堅(jiān)強(qiáng)意志。本文試圖通過剖析作品的幾大主題—回歸自然，適者生存，社會(huì)生活的折射，抗?fàn)幘窈腿说乐髁x，以揭示其主體的深刻內(nèi)涵，從而探尋其長盛不衰的藝術(shù)魅力。該篇論文深刻分析了“回歸”的含義，在對原著透徹理解的基礎(chǔ)上闡述了環(huán)境對人類的重要性，揭示了主題。關(guān)鍵詞：野性的呼喚；自由；回歸；

AbstractTheCalloftheWildisthefirstsellerofJackLondon,oneofthebestnovelsintheearlytwentieth–centuryAmerica.Itwasthisbookthatmadeitsauthorfamousintherepublicofletters.Althoughithasasimpleplot,itisconsideredasaclassicofAmericanliterature.ThearticlevividlyanalyzesthecharacteristicsofJackLondon’swritingthemethatisthedescriptionoftheconflictsbetweennatureandhuman.BasedonTheCalloftheWild，thebehaviorofitsprotagonistBuck’sfinalreturnisthesymbolofyearningforfreedomoftheauthoraswellastheurgentaspirationofpeoplewhowererepressedatthesocialcircumstanceofthattime.Itpointsouttheauthor’swritingthoughts,thathumanshowhowstrongtheyareintheirfightagainstnature.Thisthesisundertakesanattempttodissectitsthemes—backtothenature,thesurvivalofthefittest,therefractionofsociallife,strugglesoftheoppressedandhumanitarianismsoastodisclosethemultiplicityofthethemeinit.Thisthesisanalyzestheconnotationof“return”deeply.Basingonthethoroughunderstandingofthenovel,thisthesisexpoundstheimportanceofenvironmenttohumanbeings,andrevealsthetheme.Keywords：TheCalloftheWild;freedom;return

ContentsChapter1Introduction 1Chapter2Leavinghometothewild 32.1Fallingintocheatandleavinghome 32.2Unabletogetawayfromtheclub 32.3Goingintothewild 4Chapter3Apainfulstruggle 53.1Theinitialpractice 53.2Thetribulationofthesurvival 53.2.1Followingthelawoftheclubandtooth 53.2.2Becomealeader 63.2.3Fortheloveofhisbenefactor 73.3Thelastchoice 8Chapter4Buck’sgains 94.1Howtobecomeasledgedog 94.2Howtoliveinthenorth 94.3Howtorepayanobligation 104.4Thecruelcircumstance 10Chapter5Conclusion 12References 17Acknowledgements 18PAGE19Chapter1IntroductionThemostfamousnovelabouttheanimalfromtheAmericanfamousnovelistJackLondon(1876-1916)isTheCalloftheWild.ItisoneofthemasterpiecesofthegreatAmericanwriterJackLondon,andithasalwaysbeenmyfavoritenovel.Itapparentlyisadog’sstory.Inthedeeppart,LondonmakesareflectionoftherealhumanlifethroughBuck’slife.Hetreatsanimalslikehumanbeingsandhumanbeingsarejustlikeanimals,recognizingnoessentialdifferencebetweenmanandanimal.JackLondon’suncannyunderstandingofanimalandhumannaturesgivethisnovelastrikingvitalityandpower.Afterreadingit,peoplecouldnothelpponderingoverhisownlifeandthinkingaboutwhatistherealmeaningofhumannaturethatalwaysresoundsintheinnerheartliketheWildappealingBucktoreturntoitsarms.Buck’sstoryinfactisahuman’slifestory.Someinterestingcomparisonswillshowhowamazinglysimilarthesetwoworldsare,andsomeinspirationscanbedrawnfromthisallegoricstory.Oneofthecharacteristicsofhisnovelliesintheirthemes,especiallyfocusingonthefightbetweenthehumanandthenatureandhisexpressionofrespectforhuman’sstrongwillinthesefights.Buthisnovelstandsoutamongallthiskindofhuman—natureconflictstoriesbecauseheiscleverenoughtomakecruelstoryinterestingandplotting.Inthisnovel,thewholestoryisbasedonasmartdog,Buck,whichmakesitfreshbeyondtheoutlookofadogandthecommondescriptionofit.ThisisastorythattakesplaceintheoriginalwildernessofthebacklandsnowandiceboundinNorthAmerica,describingadogwhonamedBucktobedrawninthewaveofgoldrushinAlaska.Heexperiencesvarioussufferingsstruckwithsoul—stirring,andbecausedtorememberhisancestrybyinstinctinthehowl.Generally,theoriginalinnatewildofthewolfhasrevivedinhisdeepsoul.Finally,underthelureofthewolf,thewildnessintheuntamednaturebroughttohislifelittlebylittleandhissocialreturntothenaturefromthecivilization.Althoughthenoveldescribesadog,itgivesthedogwiththeinnateintelligence,using“he”and“they”tocallthemcompletely.Thepurposeliesinbeingreflectedthepatheticlifeofthelaborpeopleinacapitalismsocietybythecareerofadog,expressingthestrongwildthattheyresisttheexploitationandoppressionandlookforwardtothefreedom.Notonlydoesthestorytellthattheheroreturnstothegreatuniverse,butalsoitemphasizestheprocessthathissoulreturnstothewild.Useanewwritingskilltoannouncethetopicofthereturning.Thisnovelhas7chapters.Thelaunch,developmentandtheendofthestoryisbythecluesofthelivingenvironmentandmindvarietyofBuck.Itcanbedividedintofourimportanceparts:⑴BuckwasborninJudgeMiller’shouseinthesunnyvalleyofSantaClarainSouthernandhehadthecomfortablelifebutbecauseofthepanforgold,hewasthrownintotheabyssofpainandsufferings;⑵ThedifficultlifeafterBuckbecomeasledgedogandthemaltreatmentwhichhewassubjectedandhisresists;⑶ThefightsbetweendoganddogandfinallyBuckacquiredthemasterpolicy;⑷Buckrupturedtherelationtotheperson’satlast,andthecallofthewildmakeshimbringhislifetotheuntamednature,becomingonememberofwolves.

Chapter2Leavinghometothewild2.1FallingintocheatandleavinghomeFirst,inthelifeofthefirstfouryears,BuckwasinJudgeMiller’sofficialresidencewithsatisfiedfoodalldaylonganddidnothingdaybyday.Hereceivedthegreatfavorsfully,didnotcontendforthelifewithanyone,anddidnotneedtorushouttoworkhardatthechores.Soheformedthegoodhabitssuchasgentlenessanddocilityinhispersonality.Oneday,anassistantofthegardenofJudgeMiller’sofficialresidencelostmoneybecauseofagamble;hewasbeingeagertorepaytheloansoheabductedBucktogooutofthehouseandsoldhimtoadogtraderbythepriceof100dollarsasaresult.2.2UnabletogetawayfromtheclubInthejudge’sofficialresidence,therewasmoresuperioritywithBuckthanotherdogs,butcannotadapttheweatherthatthechillofgreatuniversechanged.Hecouldnotfightwithothersbecausehewasinahabitofahigh-fedlife;healwaysshowedself-satisfactionevenmorealittlegasconade.But,histhoughtwascompletelypureandimmature.Heeasilybelievedthegardenerassistantwhohehadknown.Hestruggledindignantlyandhowledwhenhewasawareofthathehadfallintocheatalready.Butitwaslate.Hehadbeeneducatedimmediatelyfromthestickinthehandofadogtraderwhoisinaredcoat.Theseweremaltreatmentandhumiliationthatheneverbeensubjectedtofrombirth.Andthismadehimbecomeredeyesdevil.Hetriedhisbesttoresistbutstillfailedintheend.Inthefailureheacceptedthelawoftheclubandtoothpainfully.Shouldsay,thankstothedogtrader,hebeatthisbasicandinitialruleintothebottomofhisheart.HebeattheblindfoldbravenessandthecursorystyleofBuck,madehissoulbecollidedwithandforcedhimtoreturntothemostoriginalappearance.Hehastoacceptthatheisoriginalandthemostcommonanimalinthegreatuniverse,althoughhewasbornunderaveryharmoniousenvironment,nowthathehasalreadyleftthere,heshouldgowhereheexistsoriginally,sohehastoreturntolookforhisownmarriageinthenature,returningtonature.2.3GoingintothewildAndthenBucktookthetrainandtraveledbyboat,beingtakentothenorthwhichisunfamiliarandfarawayfromthesouth.Thepeoplewhopineforgoldneededthesledgedogsbecausejustnowthenorthdiscoveredgoldmine.Fromthenon,hehadbeentakenfromtheheartofcivilizationandthrownintothelifeoftheprimitivethatwasfullofhardshipsandstruggle.Undoubtedly,itisagreatturnforhim.

Chapter3Apainfulstruggle3.1TheinitialpracticeOnthewaynorth,Buckwastorturedbadly.Hewasstrappedbyropes,starved,andbeatenbyclubs.Buckwasinsucharageatbeingtreatedsobadlythathestruggledtothrowofftheropethattiedhim,rushedtothecagethatchainedhim,andbittheclubthatbeathimwithhisfang.Afterhewasdefeatedagainandagain,Buckrealizedhestoodnochanceagainstamanwithaclub.Seeingthatgroupsandgroupsofnew-comingdogsstruggledfuriouslyandbarkeduntilexhausted,andwereyetdefeatedbythemanintheredsweateronebyone,atlastwhenbeingdrivenhome,Buckdrewalessonthat“againanagain,ashelookedateachbrutalperformance,amanwithaclubwasalawgiveramastertobeobeyed.”(StoneIrving1938:55)Inthenorth,therewasaworldoffreezingiceandthedriftingsnow.Buckstartedthecareerasasledgedog.Hewasagainstthestrictcold,startedjourneyatdawnandstoppedatdusk,enduredhunger,trailedthesledgetowalkalonglakesandglacierwhichextendedmorethan100mileswithhiscompanionsfromSkagwaytoDawson.Afterfinishedrunning2500mileslessthanfivemonths,heisalreadyutterlyexhausted,onthebrinkofdeath.Unfortunately,afterthislongjourneyheresaletoCharles’s.Sothelifebecameharsherwithpainandsufferings.BuckandhiscolleaguestrailedtheirscrawnybodyclimbtoDawsonunsteadily.Undertheleatherwhiptheywalkedontheroaddifficultlyandafterbeingfriedthelastblood,someofthemhadbeenbeatentodieortiredtodeath.Buckisalsoalmosttiredtodeath;thesparkofthelifeisweaklytogleaminthebody.3.2Thetribulationofthesurvival3.2.1FollowingthelawoftheclubandtoothThefirsttimewhenBuckwasfastenedbyanarrangementofstrapsandbucklestohaulasled,hebecameadraughtanimalandthissorelyhurthisdignity,buthewastoowisetorebel.Hebuckleddownwithawillanddidhisbest.Buckwasagoodlearner,underthecombinedtuitionofhistwomatesandFrancois,thefirsttimehewenttothewoodstohaulwood,“Everytimetheyreturnedtocampheknewenoughtostopat‘ho,’togoaheadat‘mush,’toswingwideonthebends,andtokeepclearofthewheelerwhentheloadedsledshotdownhillattheirheels.”(FredMedics1994:16)Backwassogoodatlearningthatthefirstdaybeforeitbecamedark,hecouldmanagequitewellunderthelawofclubandtooth.ButthatnightBuckfacedthegreatproblemofsleeping.Buck,asamatterofcourse,enteredhismatters’tent,onlytobebombardedwithcursesandcookingutensils.Fleeingintotheoutercold,anideacametohim.Hewouldreturnandseehowhisownteammatesweremakingout.AndBuckfoundoutthattheysleptintheholestheymadethemselves.SoBucklearnedtodigaholeinthesnowandsleepinit.Lateronhewassogoodatmakingasleepingholebecausehehadanabilitytoscentthewindandforecastitthenightinadvance,sohecouldgivehimselfawarmandcold-proofshelter.3.2.2BecomingaleaderSecondly,duringhisfollowingtimeinthenorthhehadtolearnhowtoliveinthesnowandhowtobecomealeaderintheteamofthedogs.BucksoonadaptedtosurvivalintheNorthlandenvironment.Thisnorthworldofthedogswasthesameasthehumansocietythatintrigueagainsteachotherandlawofthejungle.Controlorbecontrolled,killorbekilled,wasthelaw.Onlythestrongercansurviveinthisworld.Therefore,theferityresumedinthebodyofBuck,andthecruelandcraftinessgotaheadofalltheothernorthdogs.Heshowedhidwisdom,whenhefoughtagainstSpitzfortheleadership.Buckobeyedandlearnedtohaulasledwhenhefirstcametothenorthernland;hewastoobusyadjustinghimselftothenewlifetothinkofanythingelse.Butwhenhehadlearnedthesecretsofsurvival,hechallengedSpitzleadership.FrancoisbackedupSpitzwithhiswhip,whileBuckbackeduptheremainderoftheteam.Thedecisivebattlefinallycame.TimeandtimeagainBucktriedforSpitz’sthroat,andeachtimeSpitzslashedhimandgotaway.ButBuckwonthebattleallthesame.NowthatBuckbecameavictoryoffightandhadthereigningpositioninthedogs,whydidhestillwanttogointhewilderness?Thisisexactlywhattheauthorwantstotellusinthefourthpart.TheauthortookTheCalloftheWildasthetitleofthisbook,sowecanseewherethecenterofgravityinthisstoryis.ThenovelmentionedthatinsilentcoldnightwithflamingfireBuckheardthemysteriousvoicefromthewildernessformanytimes,andthiskindofmagicpowerwhichmadehimhavemagic,hecouldnotresistit.Hedreamedthathereturnedtothewildnessgroundwhichhisancestrieslivedin.Therefore,heusuallyconcentratedhisattentiononlisteningtothespecialvoiceandproducedakindoffeelingofbeingeagertogotothewildworld.Hecouldnothelpwalkingintotheforesttofindandpursue.BecausethiskindofcallmeantakindofwonderfulhopeandabrightfutureforBuckwhosufferedalotinthehumansociety.Itcouldmakehimgetawayfromthemankind’sfettersthoroughlyandacquiredfreedomthathedesiredgreatly.Obviously,thisalsosymbolizedtheauthor’sidealobjectiveofgettingawayfromreality,pursuingfreedom.3.2.3FortheloveofhisbenefactorHowever,peoplecan’thelpthinkingthatBuckhadalreadybeenaccustomedtothecoldweatherandthelaborofnorthlifeandfinallystayedwithhisidealhostThorntonfortheresttime.Hislifemightbecamecomfortabletostabilize,theyoncesavedthelifeoftheotherandlivedwitheachotherandtheycouldberegardedasarightnessoflifeanddeathswithtotal,dependingoneachotherforlifeasgoodfriend.Whydidn’tBuckstaywithhishostabidingbythelawandbehaveoneselfwhilehehadthestrongwilltorushintotheforesttofollowthecallofthewolf?Indeed,ThorntonsavedBuck’slife,andtreatedhimequallyandBuckgotwarmthandfondlefromhim.ThiswasabsolutelydifferentwithotherhostsbutBuckhadtolistentothehumantoorderatanytime,asaresulthestillcan’tenjoythefullfreedom.Heisstillregardedasaslaveunderpeople’scontrol,buthereceivedgreatfavors.Once,ThorntonsignalshintBucktojumpdownthecliffimprudently,Buckdidn’thesitateandpreparedtosacrificehislife;forthesakeofsavingThorntonfromfallingintothewater,Buckjumpedintothewatertochasehimfromthetorrentcurrentthreetimes,breakingthreeribsforit;ThorntonatDawsonblindlyusedBucktomakeabet,hehopedBucktopushthesledcarrying1,000poundswhichwouldnormallyneedtendogstomove.Buckputtogethertotheutmostwholebodyenergytofinishwalking100yards,win$1,600withinfiveminutesforthehost.IfThorntondidnotdie,suchathingwilltakeplacecontinuously,alwayshadnoend.Therefore,althoughBuckgotawayfromtheclubandfang,hewasstillbeenfastenedbyonechaininvisible.Beingadogforthesakeofhost’sfriendshipandpreparingtodedicatelifeatanytime,hefeltthathehadnofreedomatall.Ifhewantedtoacquirearealfreedom,hemustescapefrommankindandheadforwilderness.Atthattimehewon’tbeorderedloudlybyanyone.3.3ThelastchoiceHowever,thewildernessthatBuckrushedintoisnotautopia.Thiswasjustaplacewithoriginalappearancecompletely,therewasnoready-madefoodanddrink,desolateandsilent,snowandicebound,andrarehumanfootprinteverywhere.Everythingmustbestrived,shotforandcreatedbyus.ThereasonthatBuckdaredtorushintothewildernesswasbecausehehadbeenchastenedbythehardlife.Hehadhismindandbodyexperiencedalotandpreparedforthecomingwonderfullifeinthenature.Atleasthehadlearnedtheskillthathowtoliveintheforestandpreparedforthefreedominthefuture.LivinginthenaturegavetheopportunitytoBuckwhichhecanopenhiseyetotheworldandmasteredhislivingskillsindependently.Thiscanhelphimtoreceivethefreeworldinthematerialandspirit.Withoutallofthis,hewasn’tentitledtoexistenceintheworldofthedog.Thelifeofwildernesswasfree,unrestrained,hissoulandthenaturalcharacterallcangettoreleasefreelyoverthere.Asanoutstandingandlargedog,Buckwassuperiortotheotherdogsinthinkingandbodycondition,heshouldbelongtogreatuniverse,histhoughtshouldbelongtohisown.Soitisthefittestfinaleforhimthathereturnedtotheforest,returnedtowolves.Theauthorhopesthathissoulcanreturntotheplacewhereitshouldgo.Thesoulisfree,soitwon’tbeinterferedbytheexternalworld.Buckpossessedtherightforfree,thiswasalsowhattheauthorlookedforwardto.

Chapter4Buck’sgains4.1HowtobecomeasledgedogAfterwastaughtbyhishost’sandunderthehelpofhiscolleague,hehadlearnedhowtomasterasledgeimmediately.Thiswastheessentialskillforhimtolive.Heobservedconstantlyintheworkandmasteredhowtoworkverysooninthepractice.Labormadehimdevelopingquicklyintheintelligenceandthephysicalstrength,themindandbodyhadexperiencedalot:Hismusclesbecametoburliness;histoehadalreadybecomestrongerandtougher;healsocouldendureallkindofthepainandsufferings;hecouldeatanyfoodfastidiously;hecouldspendtheendlessnightinthesnowandicebound;hissenseofvisionandsenseofsmellbecameexceptionalsharpandhissenseofhearingbecomessointelligentthathecanlistenthemostslightsoundeveninthenightwhenhewassleeping.Thischangeinhismindandbodyexplainedthathisoriginallatentpotentialinhisbodybegantoresurge.Itsaidthattheabilitytoliveinthewildnessindependentlyhadbecomemuchbetter.Inaddition,Bucknotonlyhadthestrivespirit,butalsomasteredtheartoftheconflict.Hedidnotdotheindiscretionthingssuchastorivaltothedogtraderanymore.Hedidnotonlydependontheskills,butalsodependedhisbrains;notonlybeeagertostruggle,butalsobegoodatit.Forinstance,heinstigatedotherdogsbehindthehostandgavetheencouragementtotheinsurrectionaldogstobreakthesolidarityoftheteam,madehimbetheleader.Thiswasanotherkindofreturninsoulthathegotridoftheobeisanceandshowedhisleadershipabilityinthefuture.4.2HowtoliveinthenorthBut,inordertomakehisstomachfull,Buckcouldstealandrob;inordertogetpower,heemployedschemesandtricksplayedbyhookorbycrookandputtheleadingdogSpitztodeathandtookhisplaceinstead.Buckwasalsobloodthirstyandslaughteredmanyinnocentsmallanimals:hekilledagrouseinhisnet,chasedafrightenedrabbitandbitasquirrelthatwasabouttoescapeontoatree.Bucknotonlyslaughteredinnocentsmallanimals,butalsochallengedamoosethatwasseveraltimeshissize,hemadethemoosehungryandthirstyandfatiguedandkilledhimwhenhehadnostrengthtofightback.ThusBucksatisfiedhisbloodthirstydesires.Buck’tenderandmoralsensessoonlostinthesurvivalcompetition.Intheworldofthelawofclubandfang,moralityisnothing.HedrewalessonfromSpitzthatinordertosucceed,anywaycanbeused.Justbecauseofthis,hecouldbecomeanoutstandingheadamongthewildbests.ThesuccessofBuckisnotcausedbyhiscivilizeddomesticationreceivedfromhumanbeings.Onthecontrary,hissuccesswasduetothefactthathebrokethroughtheboundimposedonhimbymen,andturnedfasttohisoriginalinnatewild.JackLondoninthisnoveldescribesanextensiveanimalworldforus,andthelanguageheusesissovividthatwecansmellofthestenchofthe“civilizedhumanworld”.BuckisthecenterandclueofthewholestoryofTheCalloftheWild;andjustlikeheroesofJack’sothernovels,herepresentsthethemeofthestory.ThelivingpowerthatJackLondonembodiesinthefiguresisagreatchallengetotheexistingsocialorderofcapitalism.Whenhecreatedthefigures,healwaysusedawayofdescription,whichisseeminglyobjectiveandquiet,expectingreaderstofeelhisbeatingspirit.Thismakeshisnovelsimpressivefortheirthematicvalue.4.3HowtorepayanobligationBeforeBuckreturnedtothebosomofthewilderness,forsakeofavenginghishost,hemadeapounceupontheIndianindignantlyandkilledalotofpeople.Hisactionreflectedthathisthoughthadbeensublimated.Thisactionalsobrokethebind—thelawofclubandtooth,andhebravedtoresistagain.ThismoveprovedthatBuckbecamemoreandmorematuredthroughtheannealprocessforalongperiodoftime.Withtheexperience,confidenceandthecourage,hewasn’tafraidofthecruelhumananymore.Thelawofclubandtoothcouldnottocontrolhim.Thisisthespiritfoundationthathefollowstothewilderness.Theinterestcharacterofflightinhisbodycameoutatlast.Hereturnedtothemostoriginaloftheinnatecharacter,andreturntotheconditionasawildbeast.Inthedeepplaceofthesoul,heisananimalwhichneedstowinopponent,hewantedtobecomeavictoruseallofhisstrength.AtthattimeBuckhadalreadyreturnedtothewilderness,wentbacktothegreatuniversethatcalledhiminhisdream.4.4ThecruelcircumstanceThusitcanbeseenthatasthelifecircumstanceisdifferent,theexperienceisdifferenttoo.Thesechangeshavebeenarrangedbytheauthor.Ithasthecertainphilosophy.Ifthepanforgoldwavedidnottidehimtothedesolatenorth,hewouldnotescapefromthatwarmresidenceandsuperiorenvironment;hewillstillkeephissenseofsuperiorityandgentlenessandwillnothavethechanceandtherequestrushingtowardthewilderness,either;Iftherewerenolong-termpracticeofdifficultlifeandthedevelopmentofthelabortechnicalabilityinthenorth,hecouldn’tbearseverelycolddrycoldnorthernweatherandenvironment,hewouldhardlyliveindependently,theabilityofemergencyalsocan’tbecomesostrong;Iftherewerenottherescueandthefriendshipbetweenheandhishost,hewoulddisappearfromtheworld;Iftherewasnoexperiencewhichfightswithotherdogs,healsocannotdaretoruntogotowildernessandlivewiththerealwolves.Thisexplainsthatanychancinessoftheaffairs’existenceisinevitable;anyaffaircanchangeunderthecertaincondition.Buck’sdeedsshowthatthereisalsoastruggletosurviveinhumansociety,thebigfisheatupthesmall,theweakestgotothewall,andthefittestsurvive.Theybringtolighthumanbeing’sdifficultyinsurviving,andencouragepeopletostrive.Tomakeunceasingeffortstoimproveus,tostriveuntiringlyarethereflectionsofanactivelife,itisthestrengththatpushesthesocietyforward,anditisthecommonwillofthepeoplewithloftyideals.Lackingthese,thesocietywillbecomeadecadentsociety,andthepeoplewillbecomedispirited.Tostriveandkeepforgingaheadisanactivelife’sattitude.Onlybystrivingandcontinuingtoforgeaheadcanmakehumanbeingsturntheirdreamsintorealityandletthesocietygoforward.Buck’simageleapsovertime,classnationalityandnationalboundaries,itgeneralizesthetruemeaningoflife,anditrevealstheexcellenceofhumannature.Thisfigurestillhasanimportantplaceinworldliterature.

Chapter5ConclusionAfterreadingTheCalloftheWild,wecan’thelpthinkingofsuchasentence“Humanbeings,neverdegenerateintobeasts!”However,anothersentencecomesintomymindimmediately“Beasts,neverdegenerateintohumanbeings!”(CurleyDorothyNye1969:224)Buckmayturntoabeastinthestory,buthowaboutthehumanwhoturnedthedogintoabeast?Buck’scivilizeddomesticationcouldn’twinoverthecallfromtheoutsideworld,maybebecauseheisadog?WhatisthethingatlastturnedhimintoawolftoofarawayfromthewarmsunshinepethoodintheJudge’shouse?Idon’tthinktheauthoristalkingaboutadog’sturningratherthroughadog’seye,heistryingtoremindusofthepotentialsimilardangereveryoneofuswillface.Itwilltakemillionsofhardyearstoturnbeastsintohumanbeings,butamancanturnintoabeastinasecond.Buckwasforcedintowildnessjustthewayweareforcedtoadmitandacceptsuchironybythesamesocialevilsaroundus.Overthelongprocessofhumanevolution,TheCalloftheWildalwaysremainssostrongandtempting.Isthereanyfearfulnightmarelyingdeeplyinthesoulofeveryoneofus?Buck’stransformationfromdogtowolfistochallengeustofindanswertothisquestion.Thecharactersintheworksofnaturalismareusuallydominatedbythefundamentaldesiressuchasfear,hunger,andcruelstruggleetc.Intheworldofjungle,toexististhemostimportant.Sothenaturalistsadoptanimmoralattitudetowardhumanlife,andtheyneithercriticizenorpraisehumanbeings’actions.Thenaturalistsdon’thideoravoidtheexistenceofthedarksideofsociety,andtheydescribethedarksidehonestly.Thecharactersintheworksofnaturalismareunsavory.Theypaynoattentiontomoralsandtheyoffendpublicdecency,theyoftenactagainstthesocialnormsoragainsttheirwillunderthepressureofcircumstance.Buck’simagereflectsthe