White Fang Thematic Analysis
White Fang, written by Jack London, is a wonderful adventure novel that vividly depicts the life of a wolf by the name of White Fang. Throughout the course of the novel, White Fang goes through numerous learning experiences as he interacts with humans and other wolves from Alaska around the turn of the century. Jack London uses the events that transpire during White Fang's life to illustrate that only the cunning, intelligent, and strong will be able to survive. The ideas of Darwinism and survival are reinforced by almost every action that takes place in the novel. Man is shown defeating nature through superior intelligence, a wolf cub conquers his puppy-hood, and a young wolf survives despite the hardships placed upon him by man. As the story begins, Jack London is quick to introduce his theme, but he opens the first three chapters without the main character, White Fang. Two men, named Bill and Henry, are trying to transport the body of a rich man across the frozen tundra of Alaska by sled dog, while a pack of hungry wolves is pursuing them. The wolves gradually kill off the team of dogs, and eventually Bill, in an attempt to survive the long winter. It is ironic in that both the wolves and Henry are struggling ag
White Fang's reign of terror, however, only lasts until he encounters a stronger and more formidable foe. Weedon Scott, a mining expert during the gold rush, narrowly saves him from the jaws of a pitbull and teaches him one final lesson. This is that adaptability is as important in survival as any other quality. If one cannot adjust to changing surroundings and circumstances, then they will surely die. All of White Fang's ability to adapt is required when he is taken from the wilds of Alaska to the busy streets of California. It is extremely difficult for him, but he eventually makes the transition from a wild animal to a tame pet. Had he not made this alteration, then he would never have survived in the human world. This concept of survival is reinforced as White Fang has his first encounter with man. His first instinct is to attack when he sees his half-wolf half-dog mother recaptured by Indians, and he acts on this instinct. The rocks thrown by the Indians, however, remind him that he is a mere pup fighting against gods. Because of his intelligence, White Fang knows when to submit in order to keep his life. All of his actions are predicated on the need to live. Almost directly after White Fang's birth, he learns the law of survival. When he stumbles out of the den as a small and clumsy cub, his instincts instruct him to pounces upon every living thing in front of him. However, this behavior leads to an unf
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Approximate Word count = 968
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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