Why does the author of The Call of the Wild describe Buck's progress as "retrogression"?
The author of The Call of the Wild describes Buck's progress as "retrogression" because Buck starts out as a domesticated dog, accustomed to the comforts of civilization, but as he is thrust into the harsh environment of the Alaskan Gold Rush, his primitive instincts resurface and he regresses to a more primal state. This change, while necessary for his survival in the wild, is seen as a regression because he is losing the aspects of his personality that were cultivated by man, becoming more wild and untamed. The word "retrogression" is used to highlight the contrast between Buck's earlier civilized self and his transformation into a more instinctual creature.
The author of The Call of the Wild, Jack London, describes Buck's progress as "retrogression" because Buck's journey from a civilized domesticated dog to a wild, primal creature represents a regression or a step back in terms of societal norms and expectations.
In the book, Buck starts his life as a pampered pet in California but is forcibly taken to the harsh, unforgiving environment of the Klondike during the Gold Rush. As Buck adapts to the brutal conditions and the law of the wilderness, he taps into his primordial instincts and regresses to a more primitive, savage state.
London uses the concept of retrogression to highlight the contrast between the cultivated, comfortable life of domestication and the unforgiving, primal nature of the wild. Through Buck's transformation, London seeks to explore the innate primal nature in all creatures and the lure of the wild that can awaken those instincts.
To understand why the author of The Call of the Wild describes Buck's progress as "retrogression," we need to analyze the context of the novel.
In The Call of the Wild by Jack London, the story follows the transformation of Buck, a domesticated dog living a comfortable life in California, into a wild, instinct-driven creature in the harsh environment of the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush.
The term "retrogression" means the act of going backward or reverting to a previous, less advanced state. In this case, Buck's "retrogression" refers to his transformation from a well-behaved, civilized pet into a primitive, wild beast, succumbing to his primal instincts.
London uses this term to highlight the contrast between Buck's previous life of domestication and the harsh realities of the wild. The author emphasizes how Buck's progression into a wild creature is actually a regression in terms of societal norms and civilization.
By describing Buck's progress as "retrogression," the author conveys the idea that the call of the wild is a potent, primordial force that can override the influences of socialization and civilization. London wants to emphasize that in the face of the wilderness, Buck's true nature emerges, leading him to revert to a more primal state.