Characters
Buck
– A one hundred and forty pound, half St. Bernard, half Scotch
shepherd mix, Buck is a proud, strong, and intelligent creature. After
being kidnapped from his home in Santa Clara, California, he becomes a
powerful sled dog in the Canadian Klondike. As Buck goes deeper into the
wilderness, he transforms from a pampered pet into a fierce animal, who
ultimately masters the ways of the wild and his own fate.
John Thornton – An experienced gold miner and outdoorsmen, John Thornton is Buck's final owner and his ideal master. Thornton takes ownership of Buck when he saves him from Hal's brutal beating at White River. Thornton takes Buck deep into the uncharted Yukon in search of gold. They develop a deep and loving companionship.
Spitz – Buck's rival for supremacy on François and Perrault's sled dog team. Spitz is not only an experienced sled dog, who has traveled throughout the Northland, but he is a ruthless and cunning animal who will do anything to preserve his power.
François – An experienced and "swarthy” French-Canadian "half-breed,” François is a courier for the Canadian government, who teaches Buck to become a working dog. François and his sledding partner, Perrault, are wise and just masters. Not only are they skillful sledsmen, they handle their dogs with respect—disciplining, feeding, and protecting them according to the circumstances of the wild. François' speech is heavily accented, which London denotes in the phonetic spelling of his dialogue.
Perrault – Also a French-Canadian mail driver, he is François' sledding partner. Along with François, he educates Buck in becoming a sled dog. Like François, he is portrayed as a just and fair master, whose speech is heavily accented.
Judge Miller – Buck's original owner, he owns the Santa Clara estate in California where Buck grows up and from which Buck is kidnapped. He is associated with the Southland, civilization, and its laws.
Hal – An American settler, Hal comes to the Klondike in search of gold and adventure with his sister, Mercedes, and her husband, Charles. Along with his relatives, he acquires Buck's sled dog team and adds six dogs to create a massive sled dog team of fourteen. Hal is an incompetent and cruel master who harshly beats his animals with clubs and whips, treating them like slaves.
Mercedes – Hal's sister and Charles' wife, she is a selfish and materialistic woman disposed towards hysteria.
Charles – Like his wife Mercedes and brother-in-law Hal, he is an incompetent sledsman, disposed towards quarrelling and folly.
Dave – A dog and an "experienced wheeler” on the mail run sled dog team, he instructs Buck in how to be a sled dog. Dave has an unaggressive, solitary, and brooding manner, but his main characteristic is his unwavering devotion to his work in the traces. He becomes ill on the trail to Dawson and is shot out of mercy by the Scotch half-breed.
Curly – A friendly she-dog, whom Buck befriends early on, her life is cut short viciously when she naively approaches a larger husky, who rips her to shreds. Her death warns Buck of the savagery of the law of club and fang.
Dolly – A she-dog who dies of madness, (rabies), on the trail.
Sol-leks – A one-eyed dog whose name means "Angry One.” A solemn and moody animal, he does not like being approached on his blind side.
Billee and Joe – Two huskies Perrault acquires on the trail.
Manuel – A gardener at Judge Miller's Santa Clara estate, he kidnaps and sells Buck to an unnamed dog trader in order to pay off his gambling debts and support his large family.
The man in the red sweater – This dog trader and trainer beats Buck into submission following his release from a cage-like crate. By continually beating Buck with a club until he is subdued, the man in the red sweater teaches Buck to obey his masters, but not to "conciliate” to them. He is associated with the power of the club.
The Scotch half-breed – A courier of Scottish descent, he takes Buck and his team on a long and heavy mail delivery run. He shoots Dave to save him from a long and painful. Later, he sells Buck and his team to Hal, Charles, and Mercedes.
The Outsides – The six dogs that Hal acquires, including three short-haired pointers, a Newfoundland, and two "mongrels.”
The Insides – The remaining dogs of François and Perrault's sled team, who are sold to Hal. They include, Buck, Sol-leks, Billee, Joe, Koona, Teek, and Pike.
Pike – The "clever malingerer” of François and Perrault's sled team, who teaches Buck how to steal.
Teek and Koona – Two huskies acquired by François.
Skeet and Nig – Two of John Thornton's dogs.
Hans and Pete – John Thornton's travel companions.
Timber Wolf – The wild wolf that invites Buck into the woods.
"Black” Burton – A man whom Buck attacks while defending John Thornton in the bar at Circle City.
O'Brien – John Thornton's friend from whom he borrows money to cover Matthewson's wager.
Matthewson – The rich prospector who bets against John Thornton that Buck can't pull a one thousand pound sled load.
The Yeehats – The tribe of Indians that murder Thornton and ravage his camp. Buck kills them in retribution for Thornton's death.
John Thornton – An experienced gold miner and outdoorsmen, John Thornton is Buck's final owner and his ideal master. Thornton takes ownership of Buck when he saves him from Hal's brutal beating at White River. Thornton takes Buck deep into the uncharted Yukon in search of gold. They develop a deep and loving companionship.
Spitz – Buck's rival for supremacy on François and Perrault's sled dog team. Spitz is not only an experienced sled dog, who has traveled throughout the Northland, but he is a ruthless and cunning animal who will do anything to preserve his power.
François – An experienced and "swarthy” French-Canadian "half-breed,” François is a courier for the Canadian government, who teaches Buck to become a working dog. François and his sledding partner, Perrault, are wise and just masters. Not only are they skillful sledsmen, they handle their dogs with respect—disciplining, feeding, and protecting them according to the circumstances of the wild. François' speech is heavily accented, which London denotes in the phonetic spelling of his dialogue.
Perrault – Also a French-Canadian mail driver, he is François' sledding partner. Along with François, he educates Buck in becoming a sled dog. Like François, he is portrayed as a just and fair master, whose speech is heavily accented.
Judge Miller – Buck's original owner, he owns the Santa Clara estate in California where Buck grows up and from which Buck is kidnapped. He is associated with the Southland, civilization, and its laws.
Hal – An American settler, Hal comes to the Klondike in search of gold and adventure with his sister, Mercedes, and her husband, Charles. Along with his relatives, he acquires Buck's sled dog team and adds six dogs to create a massive sled dog team of fourteen. Hal is an incompetent and cruel master who harshly beats his animals with clubs and whips, treating them like slaves.
Mercedes – Hal's sister and Charles' wife, she is a selfish and materialistic woman disposed towards hysteria.
Charles – Like his wife Mercedes and brother-in-law Hal, he is an incompetent sledsman, disposed towards quarrelling and folly.
Dave – A dog and an "experienced wheeler” on the mail run sled dog team, he instructs Buck in how to be a sled dog. Dave has an unaggressive, solitary, and brooding manner, but his main characteristic is his unwavering devotion to his work in the traces. He becomes ill on the trail to Dawson and is shot out of mercy by the Scotch half-breed.
Curly – A friendly she-dog, whom Buck befriends early on, her life is cut short viciously when she naively approaches a larger husky, who rips her to shreds. Her death warns Buck of the savagery of the law of club and fang.
Dolly – A she-dog who dies of madness, (rabies), on the trail.
Sol-leks – A one-eyed dog whose name means "Angry One.” A solemn and moody animal, he does not like being approached on his blind side.
Billee and Joe – Two huskies Perrault acquires on the trail.
Manuel – A gardener at Judge Miller's Santa Clara estate, he kidnaps and sells Buck to an unnamed dog trader in order to pay off his gambling debts and support his large family.
The man in the red sweater – This dog trader and trainer beats Buck into submission following his release from a cage-like crate. By continually beating Buck with a club until he is subdued, the man in the red sweater teaches Buck to obey his masters, but not to "conciliate” to them. He is associated with the power of the club.
The Scotch half-breed – A courier of Scottish descent, he takes Buck and his team on a long and heavy mail delivery run. He shoots Dave to save him from a long and painful. Later, he sells Buck and his team to Hal, Charles, and Mercedes.
The Outsides – The six dogs that Hal acquires, including three short-haired pointers, a Newfoundland, and two "mongrels.”
The Insides – The remaining dogs of François and Perrault's sled team, who are sold to Hal. They include, Buck, Sol-leks, Billee, Joe, Koona, Teek, and Pike.
Pike – The "clever malingerer” of François and Perrault's sled team, who teaches Buck how to steal.
Teek and Koona – Two huskies acquired by François.
Skeet and Nig – Two of John Thornton's dogs.
Hans and Pete – John Thornton's travel companions.
Timber Wolf – The wild wolf that invites Buck into the woods.
"Black” Burton – A man whom Buck attacks while defending John Thornton in the bar at Circle City.
O'Brien – John Thornton's friend from whom he borrows money to cover Matthewson's wager.
Matthewson – The rich prospector who bets against John Thornton that Buck can't pull a one thousand pound sled load.
The Yeehats – The tribe of Indians that murder Thornton and ravage his camp. Buck kills them in retribution for Thornton's death.