An Analysis of �The Call of the Wild� Based on Foucault�s Power Theory

Jack London is universally acknowledged as one of the leading naturalistic writers of the 20th century. Since his novel “The Call of the Wild” was published, it had been regarded as a masterpiece in American contemporary literature, which also had great effects on literature and social values. Not only the novel is a masterpiece in literature, but also it suggests the sound of resistance of people at that time. In the novel, “The Call of the Wild”, the author has adopted a more complex way to analyze the unreasonable social phenomena, and this statement is not through the description of social unrest or conflict of rights but more focuses on the individual performance in front of the social or natural power forced to passive choice, self-adjustment of the journey. This paper, firstly, will briefly introduce the writer Jack London and “The Call of the Wild”. The second part, Foucault’s Power Theory will be explained. The third part, under the guidance of Foucault’s Power Theory, combined with the convert of Buck’s living condition, analyzes and discusses the figure change of Buck. Finally, the conclusion is that disciplinary power exists everywhere. Whether they are animals or people, they will be disciplined by the disciplinary power. Under the power, the society will become more and more harmonious.