A Review of The Call of the Wild

I can't calm down for a long time after I've read the book The Call of the Wild written by Jack London published in 1903.Unlike his other works written before,he chose boldly a brand new subject matter——dogs when writing this novel. The dog named Buck was born in a wealthy family in Canifornia's warm zone and he is a mixture of St. Bernard and Scottish shepherd.However,he was stolen one day and sold to cold north to work as a sledge dog.At first,he didn't give in to the manipulation of the fate and stood up for himself although he was almost strangled by the rope.After he was delivered to his first owner,he learned law of the jungle and was finally awared that the one with a stick is the one who makes the rules.Hence,he had to do his utmost to adapt to the new environment and life. He did find pleasure when drawing a sled but he realized the reality is cruel after he witnessed his friends' deaths and becoming other dogs' food.By the advantage of his inherent intelligence and learning ability,however,he soon abandoned moral nature and began to steal and to be crafty which helped him survive in hostile conditions and earn the respect of his dog companions.Gradually,his cunning nature and primitive instinct are aroused.He recalled his ancestors and the hereditary ancient living skills in his vein.He also recollected his passion for a savage life to the extent that he would even wander under the stars and howled at the moon as if he were a wolf.After a great time with his last owner until his owner was murdered by Indians，he eventually returned to the jungle and integrated into the wolves. The story of Buck is fascinating,for it not only reveals “survival of the fittest” but enlightens people to reexamine our society.We may ask ourselves if there is any similarity between the world of dogs and that of ours.As the unique and most powerful species on the planet,we do have the responsibility to look in the rearview mirror to develop which means that we can't just launch a war when it comes to a conflict or bite each other only because of a trifle.All of us should bear in mind that civilization is the essential difference between human and animals. From another perspective,Buck's passion for nature also reminds us of the desire for freedom.In other words,the author endows the dog with humans' inner emotions to express contemporary aspirations. Born in this fast-paced era,individuals sometimes have no choice but to behave themselves in a generally accepted way，which could explain why so many people nowadays are overwhelmed by endless stress.Although the technology has been developed to a unprecedented level and freed people from onerous physical labor,individuals are still trapped in the“modernization cage” .Therefore,more and more people prefer to live in the countryside now and walk closer to nature for it could awaken fantastic memory in the depth of their hearts.I guess the author has the same desire for a life without care and concern. The book is highly praised for its impressive description and flowing rhythm.Jack London was trying to criticize his society at that time by his works.Today,as a teenager and college student，we can still gain a lot from his works.That's why Jack London is considered as one of the most influential authors .In short,his works are well worth reading.