# Who Has Won to Mastership explained — The Call of the Wild

> Chapter companion for The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

## What happens

Buck asserts his dominance and becomes the new leader of the sled team after killing Spitz. He proves his superiority through discipline and strength, leading the team on a record run to Skaguay. The chapter also highlights the decline of Dave, who is too sick to continue but refuses to be replaced, ultimately being left behind. Buck and the team are then reassigned to a heavy mail run back to Dawson.

## Themes in this chapter

### Mastery and Leadership

Buck earns and asserts his right to lead through strength and cunning, transforming the team's discipline and performance.

### Survival of the Fittest

Dave's decline and eventual removal from the traces illustrate the harsh reality that only the fit can endure the relentless toil.

### Love and Loyalty

Dave's desperate refusal to be replaced, even when dying, shows his deep pride and loyalty to his role in the team.

## Character check-ins

### Buck

Assumes leadership of the team after killing Spitz, enforces discipline, and leads a record run to Skaguay.

### Dave

Suffers from an internal injury, is removed from the team, but refuses to be replaced and eventually collapses.

### François

Initially resists Buck's claim to leadership but eventually concedes; later bids Buck farewell in Skaguay.

### Perrault

Supports François in trying to control Buck, then acknowledges Buck's worth; celebrates the record run.

### Sol-leks

Briefly placed as lead dog but is displaced by Buck; accepts the change without complaint.

### Billee

Shows signs of exhaustion, crying in his sleep; remains good-natured under Buck's leadership.

## Key lines

> Dave had bitten through both of Sol-leks’s traces, and was standing directly in front of the sled in his proper place. He pleaded with his eyes to remain there.

Dave chewed through Sol-leks's harness and took his old position, begging with his eyes to be allowed to keep working.

_Dave's desperate act shows his refusal to give up his role despite being mortally ill._

> Buck trotted up to the place Spitz would have occupied as leader; but François, not noticing him, brought Sol-leks to the coveted position.

Buck went to the lead position, but François ignored him and put Sol-leks there instead.

_Buck immediately claims the leadership he believes he has earned._

> It was a record run. Each day for fourteen days they had averaged forty miles.

The team set a new speed record, covering forty miles daily for two weeks.

_Under Buck's leadership, the team achieves an unprecedented feat of endurance and speed._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/chapters/iv-who-has-won-to-mastership
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/chapters