Read this excerpt from the call of the wild. buck felt vaguely that there was no depending upon these two men and the woman. they did not know how to do anything, and as the days went by it became apparent that they could not learn. . . . not only did they not know how to work dogs, but they did not know how to work themselves. this excerpt mainly uses direct characterization to show what buck is like. indirect characterization to show what buck is like. direct characterization to show what the men are like. indirect characterization to show what the men are like.