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The Law of Club and Fang
The traces, which bind the sled dogs to their sleds, represent labor and service, pride in one's work, and the social hierarchy of the sled dog team. Under the traces' binding grip, Buck transforms from a pet into a working dog. He learns and earns his place through his labor in the traces. However, the sled dog's traces don't just bind canines into steadfast servitude. They also reflect the working order of the entire sled dog team. A dog's position in the traces dictates his place in the team's canine hierarchy. For instance, Spitz is the dominant, alpha male of the pack, so he is harnessed at the head of the team. When Buck overthrows Spitz, he assumes Spitz's place in the traces, symbolizing his leadership and authority over the other dogs.
The Traces Quotes in The Call of the Wild
The The Call of the Wild quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Traces. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 3
Quotes
It was inevitable that the clash for leadership should come. Buck wanted it. He wanted it because it was his nature, because he had been gripped tight by that nameless, incomprehensible pride of the trail and trace—that pride which holds dogs in the toil to the last gasp, which lure them to die joyfully in the harness, and breaks their hearts if they cut out of the harness.
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The insidious revolt led by Buck had destroyed the solidarity of the team. It no longer was as one dog leaping in the traces.
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Chapter 4
Quotes
Dave resented being taken out, grunting and growling while the traces were unfastened, and whimpering brokenheartedly when he saw Sol-leks in the position he had held and served so long. For the pride of trace and trail was his, and sick, unto death, he could not bear that another dog should do his work.
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The Traces Symbol Timeline in The Call of the Wild
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Traces appears in The Call of the Wild. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2: The Law of Club and Fang
Buck receives "another shock" when François harnesses him to the traces. Having observed horses harnessed in a similar manner to haul loads, Buck's pride is hurt...
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Chapter 3: The Dominant Primordial Beast
...rest in Dawson, the team pushes onward to Skaguay. But there is unrest in the traces as Buck's insurrection continues. One night, Buck leads the pack in a rabbit hunt. Caught...
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Chapter 4: Who Has Won to Mastership
...with harnessing the dogs. Buck walks to take Spitz's position at the head of the traces. Yet François harnesses Sol-leks there. Buck, indignant, lunges at Sol-leks, who stands back. François grabs...
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...down with a mysterious illness, becoming so weak that he can barely stand in the traces. The Scotsman removes Dave from the traces, putting Sol-leks in his place. Dave resents being...
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Chapter 5: The Toil of Trace and Trail
...five dogs remain, after Hal kills Billee with an ax for falling down in the traces. Wounded, weary, and traumatized, the dogs do not even notice that spring has arrived. The...
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...his ax. Thornton picks up the knife, using it to cut Buck out of his traces. Hal, tired from the fight, retreats with Charles, Mercedes and the remaining dogs, heading towards...
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Chapter 6: For the Love of Man
Thornton shouts directions at Buck to pull the sled. Straining under the traces, Buck swings to the right, then to the left, breaking the sled's runners out of...
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