A dog’s legend
, J ack London’s most famous novel, was published in 1903.
It tells us a story about a dog named Buck who is stolen from a rich and very comfortable home and has to struggle for survival. Buck is a very strong dog. After he is stolen, he also be sold many times and eventually he starts his gold-rush-trip as an Alaskan sled dog and enters the very wasteland which is far away from human civilization. But he amazingly adapts to the life which is of much challenges and he loves there very much. During the time he adjusts himself to the cruel world he is aware of the principle about survival of the fittest and the tenet of the nature and justice. The terrible living environment makes him to learn not only to be cunning but also hypocritical. He knows that only in doing so can he survive from the fierce competition. And more often than not he can thoroughly make full use of his ability that he learned. After conquers every contention with other dogs, he certainly becomes the leader of the dogs. During the hardly way of sled, the master changes several times and Buck encounters John Thornton, one of his masters, and finally Buck and John Thornton becomes very good friends. The master John pulls him out of awful donkey works and gives him comfort. He also saves John’s life more than one time as repaying an obligation. At last, John Thornton, the master of Buck and the one Buck deeply loves is killed by Indians. Buck is very grievous and he revenges his dead master. Then he enters the wild and responses to the mysterious call of the wild which he yearns for a long time. At last, he becomes a veritable wolf, and of course the leader of the wolves. John Thornton is not only a dog-lover but also a brave and venturous man. He is so straightforward and simple that makes him an accommodating man. Once he firmly roots a goal into his heart, it seems that nothing could prevent him from accomplishing it except death. I do not know whether the persistence is the most vital element to make a man successful, but what I know is that you are not far away from success once you occupy it.
Although Buck is a dog, but his tough way of life and his attitude to the life
can absolutely reflect the real world of the author’s age. What’s more, the connotation the story wants to tell us is the inevitable result of the development of capitalism. It teaches us if we want to survive we must perfect ourselves now and then and we should know the real meaning of the theory “the survival of the fittest”. Simultaneously the author suggests that in the competitive society and the austere natural environment only the person who is of enormous perseverance and strength can have the possibility of survival.
In the story, the relationship between human and dog changes along with the attitude that human treats the dog. But unfortunately, Buck never receives equal love and respect from human being. Actually, the author also wants to appeal for the humanity and sympathy for animals as well.
In a word, the novel is meaningful and it is of much artistic charm. I really enjoy it.
