What drives Buck’s actions as the story unfolds?

Buck's actions throughout "The Call of the Wild" are primarily driven by his instinctual drive for survival and freedom. As the narrative progresses, Buck is thrust into a harsh and primal environment that challenges his domesticated nature and compels him to adapt in order to endure. This transformation highlights the enduring power of instinct over arbitrary social constructs.

In the wild, Buck learns that survival is dependent on his ability to tap into his ancestral instincts, such as hunting and fighting, which ultimately leads him to embrace his wilderness heritage. The journey also emphasizes his yearning for freedom, as he becomes increasingly aware that the constraints of human ownership and domestication are antithetical to his true nature as a wolf-dog.

The other options do not fully encompass the core motivations of Buck's character or reflect the themes of the novel. The pursuit of wealth and fame, loyalty to humans, or merely a desire to please masters do not capture the raw instincts that are awakened in Buck, or the sense of liberation he finds as he gravitates towards his primal roots. His character arc is a profound exploration of the natural instincts that drive life and the quest for autonomy amidst adversity.