Summary
White Fang by American author Jack London is a gripping tale of survival set in the harsh wilderness of the Yukon Territory. Published in 1906 as a companion to the author's earlier work The Call of the Wild, the novel follows the journey of a wolfdog, White Fang, as he navigates the brutal world of both wild animals and humans during the Klondike Gold Rush. London's vivid prose and intimate understanding of animal behavior bring White Fang's experiences to life. Exploring themes of nature versus nurture, redemption, and the complex relationship between humans and animals, White Fang remains popular with readers of all ages.
Plot
White Fang, a wolfdog born in the wild Yukon Territory, faces a harsh life from birth. As the lone survivor of his litter, he learns the brutal law of survival in the wilderness alongside his mother, a former sled dog named Kiche. After encountering humans, White Fang is taken into a Native American camp where he experiences cruelty from other dogs, especially the pack leader Lip-Lip.
As White Fang grows, he becomes a fierce and solitary fighter. He is eventually sold to a malicious dog-fighter named Beauty Smith, who forces him to participate in vicious battles against other animals. White Fang's life takes a turn when he faces a bulldog named Cherokee in a fight that nearly kills him. Fortunately, he is rescued and purchased by a kind and patient prospector, Weedon Scott.
Scott patiently works to tame White Fang, gradually earning his trust and affection. When Scott decides to return to California, White Fang follows him, unwilling to be separated from his new master. In Scott's home in Sierra Vista, White Fang must adapt to a new way of life, learning the rules of domesticated living.
The novel culminates in a dramatic event when an escaped convict, Jim Hall, attempts to murder Scott's father, Judge Scott. White Fang intervenes, saving the judge's life but sustaining severe injuries in the process. He survives and is hailed as a hero, fully accepted into the Scott family. The story concludes with White Fang living contentedly with his mate, a sheepdog named Collie, and their puppies.
Themes
Survival of the fittest in nature and society
The struggle between civilization and wilderness
The transformative power of love and kindness
Adaptation and resilience in harsh environments
The duality of savage and tame within individuals
Loyalty and the bond between humans and animals
Overcoming abuse and learning to trust again
Setting
White Fang takes place in the late 1890s during the Klondike Gold Rush era. This was a period of rapid expansion and exploration in the Yukon Territory of northwestern Canada, as thousands of prospectors migrated to the region in search of gold. The harsh, unforgiving wilderness of the Yukon serves as a fitting backdrop for Jack London's tale of survival and the struggle between nature and civilization.
The story unfolds across the vast, frozen landscape of the Yukon Territory and parts of the Northwest Territories. From desolate, snow-covered forests to icy rivers like the Mackenzie, the setting reflects the untamed wilderness of the Canadian north. The extreme climate and rugged terrain play a crucial role in shaping the characters and events of the novel.
Characters
White Fang: The protagonist, a wolfdog born in the wild. He experiences a harsh life in both the wilderness and human settlements, developing into a fierce fighter. Through Weedon Scott's kindness, White Fang eventually learns to trust and love, becoming a loyal companion. His journey from wild animal to domesticated pet mirrors the theme of nature versus nurture.
Kiche: White Fang's mother, a former sled dog who returns to the wild. She fiercely protects her pup but later abandons him when she has a new litter. Kiche represents the pull between domestication and wild instincts.
Weedon Scott: A kind and patient gold hunter who becomes White Fang's third and most influential master. He rescues White Fang from dog-fighting and slowly earns his trust and loyalty. Scott's compassionate approach to taming White Fang showcases the power of love and kindness in rehabilitation.
Beauty Smith: The main antagonist, a cruel dog-fighter who purchases White Fang and forces him to fight. His abusive treatment reinforces White Fang's savage nature and distrust of humans.
Gray Beaver: White Fang's first human master, a Native American chief. He treats White Fang neutrally, neither with cruelty nor affection, representing a middle ground between wild and domesticated life.
Lip-Lip: A canine pup who relentlessly bullies White Fang in the Native American village. His actions contribute to White Fang's aggressive development and isolation from other dogs.
One-Eye: White Fang's father, a full wolf who is killed by a lynx early in the story. His brief appearance highlights the harsh realities of life in the wild.
Cherokee: A bulldog who defeats White Fang in a dog fight. This battle marks a turning point in White Fang's life, leading to his rescue by Weedon Scott.
Collie: A sheepdog on Scott's estate who initially distrusts White Fang but later becomes his mate. She represents White Fang's successful integration into domestic life.
Judge Scott: Weedon Scott's father, initially skeptical of White Fang. He fully accepts the wolfdog after White Fang saves him from an attacker, symbolizing White Fang's complete transformation and acceptance in human society.
Quick facts
White Fang was serialized in Outing magazine from May to October 1906 before being published as a novel.
The book is considered a thematic mirror to Jack London's earlier work, The Call of the Wild.
Much of the novel is written from the perspective of the wolfdog White Fang, allowing London to explore an animal's view of the world.
London wrote the book partly as an autobiographical allegory of his own life transformation.
The story is set during the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s in Yukon Territory.
Shortly after its publication, White Fang became a subject of controversy in the “nature fakers” debate, with President Theodore Roosevelt criticizing London's portrayal of animals.
London was influenced by the ideas of Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Nietzsche while writing the novel.
White Fang has inspired several screen adaptations, including a 1991 film starring Ethan Hawke and 2018 Netflix original movie.
A Japanese anime film adaptation titled The Story of White Fang was produced by Studio DEEN in 1982.
White Fang has been translated into at least 89 different languages.
About the Author
Jack London (1876-1916) was one of America's most popular and prolific authors in the early 20th century. His most famous novels include The Call of the Wild and White Fang, both set during the Klondike Gold Rush, drawing inspiration from his experiences in Alaska and the Yukon while prospecting for gold in 1897, and written from the perspective of an animal. He is also known for the dystopian novel The Iron Heel, the semi-autobiographical Martin Eden, and short stories like “To Build a Fire.” In total, London wrote nearly 50 novels and hundreds of short stories.
Born in San Francisco, London had a difficult childhood marked by poverty. He worked various jobs as a teenager and young adult, including as an oyster pirate and sailor, which provided fodder for his later adventure stories. London achieved fame and fortune through his fiction writing, becoming one of the first American authors to earn a large income solely from his literary work. Beyond his writing career, London was an outspoken advocate for workers' rights. He joined the Socialist Labor Party in 1896 and later the Socialist Party of America, even running for mayor of Oakland twice on the Socialist ticket. London wrote extensively about social and economic issues, publishing nonfiction works like The People of the Abyss about poverty in London's East End.
London lived a vigorous life marked by travel and adventure but struggled with health issues and alcoholism. He died at age 40 on his beloved Beauty Ranch in California's Sonoma Valley. Though London’s life was short, his influence on American literature and his larger-than-life persona have secured his place as one of the country's most iconic authors.
