Final answer:
Buck responds to the conflict within him because he embraces the conflict to become a better individual. The correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
Within literature, characters frequently face internal conflicts that challenge their beliefs, attitudes, and sense of self. Buck, the canine protagonist from Jack London's The Call of the Wild, experiences such a conflict, and he responds by embracing the conflict.
This challenges him and ultimately leads to his development as an individual. Buck's response mirrors a common theme in literature where characters undergo a transformation through the resolution of internal conflict. In real-life scenarios similar to Buck’s challenges, one could choose a similar approach by replacing negative thoughts with affirmations that can help to overcome cognitive dissonance and personal challenges. For example, someone like Joaquin could tell himself that he is becoming stronger through his challenges, thereby resolving the uncomfortable state of cognitive dissonance.
Similarly, politics often resolves conflicts through bargaining among the parties involved. In art, literature and various social studies as well, the resolution of conflicts, be them internal or external, shapes the purpose and theme of the narrative. The process of resolving conflicts often involves the protagonist reaching out, making sacrifices, and finding strength through adversity, as indicated by the literary example of Goodman Brown's internal struggle in 'Young Goodman Brown' by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Thus the correct option is a.