Francois and Perrault value Buck for his strength and eventually come to hold him in high esteem because of his amazing ability to lead the team and do their work for them. They lack any significant personal attachment to him, however, as they see all their dogs as tools that they must take care of in order to do the work they've chosen. They know to take care of them and feed them and rest...
Francois and Perrault value Buck for his strength and eventually come to hold him in high esteem because of his amazing ability to lead the team and do their work for them. They lack any significant personal attachment to him, however, as they see all their dogs as tools that they must take care of in order to do the work they've chosen. They know to take care of them and feed them and rest them when needed.
When Buck falls into the clutches of Hal and Charles, they have no idea of how to take care of the dogs and expect them to have limitless strength. They drive the dogs until they can no longer stand. This exposure to human stupidity and pride perhaps starts Buck down the road to being totally wild and free from the vagaries of human ownership.
The juxtaposition of Hal and Charles' treatment of Buck with the way that John Thornton treats him serves to highlight the incredible love and devotion that John gives Buck. Buck returns this affection even when he is torn between the world of the wolves and the comfort and care he feels from John. That same contrast makes it easy for the reader to sympathize with Buck when he finds that John has been murdered and he turns on the murderers.
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