Final answer:
Buck starts in a serene California estate but ends up in the harsh Yukon, transforming from a domesticated pet into a resilient sled dog. This harsh new environment compels Buck to adapt, uncovering his primal instincts and influencing his development. Jack London illustrates the profound impact of environment on shaping character through the struggle between the civilized world and raw nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
At the beginning of Chapter 1 in Jack London's The Call of the Wild, Buck's environment is a comfortable, sunny estate in Santa Clara Valley, where Buck lives as a domesticated pet. In stark contrast, by the end of Chapter 1, Buck finds himself in the harsh, frigid climate of the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush, having been dog-napped and sold into a life of sled-pulling.
The initial setting is one of ease and tranquility—warm climate, ample food, and gentle masters. Buck's later environment is brutal, with sub-zero temperatures, scarcity of food, cruel handlers, and the need to compete for dominance. These drastic changes in setting force Buck to adapt from a pampered pet to a strong and resilient sled dog, kick-starting his transformation and his reconnection with his primal instincts. As he shifts from man's estate to the wild Northland, the struggle between civilization and the natural world is evident, shaping the dog's development and survival skills.
The deviation in environment affects Buck's character development by exposing him to the harsh realities of life as a sled dog. Adversity strips away his domestication, revealing a raw survival instinct and eventually leading to his evolution as a leader and a creature of the wild. Jack London uses Buck's journey to illustrate the grueling conflict between man and nature, emphasizing the impact of environment on an individual's ability to adapt and overcome challenges.