The Call Of Jack London Essay -- essays research papers

The Call Of son of a bitch LondonDuring a time when serviceman had gold fever, andphilosophical views plagued the minds of many, one man tookthese views and turned them into great outdoor happenings. John Jack Griffith London, a twentieth century author,wrote The Call of the Wild, other novels, and short storiesthat depict the philosophical views of the time and summarizeedadventure to them by using his own life experiences thatcarried thousands of men including himself to the Klondikein search of gold. In Winter 1876 San Francisco John and Flora Londonshared the joy of childbirth in the celebration of theironly child together. They named the baby boy John GriffithLondon, or Jack for short. He became the twelfth child ofhis father, for through his first spousal he had elevenchildren. Jack Londons family was stricken by poverty. His father had many trades, however worked mainly in truckgardening(McCracken 370). After Jacks graduation fromgrammar school, which he attended in Oak land, Jack read manynovels, mainly ones about romance, travel, and adventure. He took many odd jobs to make ends meet(Comptons interactionalEncyclopedia).Jack had ambitions for a life at sea. At age fifteenJack London bought a boat of his own, called Razzle Dazzle. He became an oyster pirate, sail the San Francisco Bayrobbing oyster beds and becoming a heavy drinker. Jack hadmany hard times. He spent some time as a lowlife and spentsome time in prison. At the age of nineteen he entered highschool. Hard work enabled him the privilege of attendingThe University of California at Berkley. Less than a yearpassed and he gave up school to try and support his familyand persue a writing career. He did not sell any of hiswork(Kunitz and Haycraft 844).He joined the gold rush to the Klondike in the summerof 1897. The group stopped along the Yukon near about theStewert River for winter. London became vary ill withScurvy and was compel south for survival. Upon his re entryto San Francisco Jac k learned of his fathers death. Hecould not find work of any kind, so once again he tried hishand at writing. His first writing, a story about life onthe Yukon, was accepted by a magazine called Overlan... ...ty. This isillustrated in a cite from the book, His cunning was wolfcunning...his intelligence, shepherd intelligence and St.Bernard intelligence.(London) Londons unusual subjectallows him to see virtues in return to an aboriginal statethat could not be found if humans were the subject.(Magill1148) He also uses the literary element of contrast tobring effect to his novel. For instance when Buck is athis most savage he is also most completely fulfilling hispotential utulizing his brain, muscles, and heart to theutmost.(Magill 1148)Jack London had a life full of ups and downs . He usedideas of philosophy that affected the valet to inspire allof his writings as well as the ideas of his own experiencesand of the great adventures celebrated in the age of time. He used ideas of C harles Darwin, racial hierarchy, and theAmerican Credo of success to inspire his writings. Once hetried to make it to Alaska himself, so he was able to usesome of what he experienced to add realistic adventure tohis stories. All elements of his life and his era helpedmake him one of the greatest adventure writers of thegenerations.