Read this excerpt from The Call of the Wild and answer the question. Buck felt vague 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. They were slack in all things, without order or discipline.

What is the thematic relationship between these characters and a character such as Francois?

a. These characters are unimportant.
b. These characters are antagonists.
c. These characters act as bookends.
d. These characters are an antithesis.