The call is a wild force that beckons Buck to immerse himself in nature. Though not represented by any single object, it is an energy often associated with songs and wolf howls. "Ancient song" and "song of the pack" are a few examples. The musical quality of "the call" underlines its ability speak to the primal, instinctual, and emotional aspects of Buck's character, suggesting that it is not just an alluring voice, but a powerful summoning.
The Call Quotes in The Call of the Wild
The The Call of the Wild quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Call. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 7
Quotes
It was the call, the many-noted call, sounding more luringly and compellingly than ever before. And as never before he was ready to obey. John Thornton was dead. The last tie was broken. Man and the claims of man no longer bound him.
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Explanation and Analysis:
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The Call Symbol Timeline in The Call of the Wild
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Call appears in The Call of the Wild. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 6: For the Love of Man
...first time, Buck comes to adore and admire Thornton as his "ideal master." Although the call beckons Buck into the forest, he remains devoted to Thornton, returning to his fireside, whenever...
(full context)
Chapter 7: The Sounding of the Call
...life timber wolf, who beckons him into the forest. Buck senses the summoning of the call as they cavort in the woods, but Buck remembers John Thornton and eventually returns to...
(full context)
Buck mourns over John Thornton's body but that night hears the call. The wild wolf pack circles him. They lunge and strike at him, but he displays...
(full context)
