The Characters

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London did not have the benefit of twentieth century studies of wolf behavior in nature and of instances in which a wolf has bonded with a human. Instead, he relied on his own imagination and the highly inaccurate conjectures of nineteenth century naturalists. Therefore, the reader can accept only the characters of White Fang and the other wolves on the allegorical level. The human characters function more as types than individuals, especially the three masters of White Fang. His character is the only one that London allows to grow.

White Fang is born in the wild. The best part of the book occurs when he ventures out of the cave and into the wild. White Fang grows up hating other dogs and wolves and regards all creatures in terms of whether they are his prey or he is their prey. Eventually, his last master redeems White Fang by love and domesticates him.

Kiche was born in captivity and escaped into the wild but ultimately returns to her human masters. The high point of her life occurs when the three male wolves fight to the death to determine who will mate with her. Eventually, Kiche becomes indifferent to White Fang, her son, and raises another litter of cubs.

One-Eye got his name because he lost his right eye in a battle years before the events described in the novel. He is intelligent, brave, and dedicated; most important, One-Eye is a survivor. He dies only because he is trying to feed his family.

Cherokee is a highly developed product of civilization. He is a dog bred for one function only, killing other dogs. Only Weedon Scott’s intervention stops him from killing White Fang. This serves to demonstrate the ultimate superiority of civilization over nature.

Gray Beaver represents humanity that lives in primitive civilization. He demonstrates his superiority over White Fang by training him to obey humans. Unfortunately, when he encounters an allegedly higher civilization, he degenerates into a drunkard. London’s racism, very common among his contemporaries, portrays this as the natural order of things rather than as the corruption of an innocent. The power of the white man, even the worst kind such as Beauty Smith, overwhelms Gray Beaver.

Beauty Smith is a cowardly sadist who takes pleasure in beating White Fang and in watching White Fang kill other dogs. His status in society before acquiring White Fang is the lowly position of cook and dishwasher. He uses White Fang to advance his position in society by appealing to the baser emotions of other men.

Weedon Scott is a civilized person of intelligence and good character. The son of a judge, he is a member of the upper middle class. The dogfight disgusts him, so he takes White Fang away from Smith and treats the wolf with kindness. London clearly implies that when White Fang accepts him as his master, he is moving up in the hierarchy of human beings.

Bill and Henry are almost caricatures. The reader has to question whether they would have survived for long in the wilderness, considering thier poor judgment in taking so few arms and so little ammunition on their trek. Of course, Bill does die as a result of his own stupidity and impulsiveness.

Themes and Characters

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White Fang, a hybrid of wolf and husky, possesses traits suited for both wild and civilized life. However, his character is profoundly influenced by his surroundings. Born in the wilderness, White Fang evolves into a shrewd predator, perfectly suited to a survival-of-the-fittest world. It is only when he is captured and sold to the cruel Beauty Smith that White...

(This entire section contains 341 words.)

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Fang becomes malicious and bitter. He responds to the cruelty of his new owner by becoming vicious. Under Smith's relentless torment, White Fang transforms into "a more ferocious thing than had been intended by Nature." Similarly, both Beauty Smith and the villainous convict Jim Hall, whom White Fang eventually kills, are shaped into monstrosities by their environments.

Every dog opposed him, and every human was against him.
White Fang underscores the triumph of civilized life over primitive existence, a concept London described as the "complete antithesis" of The Call of the Wild. Unlike Buck in The Call of the Wild, who becomes increasingly wild, White Fang is taken from the wilderness and gradually domesticated.

Throughout White Fang, the allure of civilization, symbolized by fire and human companionship, is much stronger than the call of the wild. White Fang views the human firemakers as "gods." Initially, he submits to humans due to their superior strength. Despite being repeatedly beaten and resisting, he finds himself increasingly reliant on fires, provisions, and human protection. From humans, he learns a new social law—to oppress the weak and obey the strong. He adheres to this rule and subsequently oppresses weaker dogs.

Later, after being rescued from the brutality of Beauty Smith by Weedon Scott, a new element emerges in the relationship between man and beast—love. This theme is also present in The Call of the Wild, illustrated through the bond of love and loyalty between Buck and John Thornton. Love does not come easily to White Fang; Weedon Scott has to teach it to him patiently. Ultimately, love proves to be the most powerful social force, transforming White Fang into a trusting and loyal companion.

Characters

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Bill

In Part One of the novel, Bill and Henry transport Lord Alfred's body to Fort McGurry. As they journey, they are menaced by ravenous wolves that kill several of their sled dogs. Bill becomes increasingly fearful and convinced that the wolves will eventually attack them. When the wolves draw one of the dogs away during the day, Bill impulsively pursues with his gun, attempting to save the dog despite the high danger and slim chances of success. Both Bill and the dog are killed by the wolves.

Collie

Collie is a sheepdog residing at Weedon Scott’s estate in California. When White Fang first arrives, she relentlessly harasses him, driven by her natural hostility towards wolves. White Fang refrains from harming her, even when she attacks, partly because he recognizes her importance to Scott and partly due to his inherent nature as a wolf to avoid injuring a female of his species, or in this case, a closely related species.

Over time, Collie leads White Fang into the woods to mate. In the novel’s final scene, as White Fang recovers from his gunshot wounds and ventures outside, he sees Collie with their puppies. He allows the puppies to climb over him as he rests.

Dick

Dick is a deerhound and a pet of the Scott family. Upon White Fang’s arrival at the Scott estate, Dick chases him. White Fang, due to his past experiences, perceives this chase as a life-threatening attack. Collie’s intervention is the only thing that prevents White Fang from killing Dick.

Jim Hall

Jim Hall is a convicted murderer who was sentenced by Judge Scott and has sworn vengeance against him. After escaping from prison, Hall goes to the Scotts’ estate to exact his revenge but is attacked and killed by White Fang. However, during the struggle, Hall manages to shoot White Fang multiple times, leaving him severely wounded.

Henry

Henry accompanies Bill on the journey to Fort McGurry with Lord Alfred’s body. While Bill becomes increasingly unstable due to the wolves' threat, Henry remains composed and survives until unexpected help arrives.

Kiche

Kiche, initially referred to as the She-Wolf, appears in the first part of the novel living in the wild with other wolves. Her name is revealed later when she reunites with the Indians she had previously lived with.

In Part One, Kiche is part of the wolf pack that menaces Henry and Bill. She is somewhat tame and enters the camp in search of food when Bill feeds the dogs. Kiche also lures the dogs away from the camp at night, enabling the other wolves to kill and devour them.

After the pack is driven away from Henry and finally finds food, Kiche mates with an elderly wolf named One-Eye. All her cubs perish during a famine except for one, a gray male who will later be known as White Fang. One day, Kiche hears White Fang's cries and rushes to save him, where she encounters the Indian Gray Beaver. Kiche permits Gray Beaver to pet her and tie her up until she is tame enough to stay with the Indians willingly.

Kiche is the offspring of a dog and a wolf, a union arranged by Gray Beaver's now-deceased brother, making White Fang one-quarter dog.

Kloo-Kooch

Kloo-Kooch is Gray Beaver's wife. She offers perhaps the only moment of kindness White Fang experiences among the Indians, warmly welcoming him back after a famine.

Lip-Lip

Lip-Lip is a puppy from the Indian camp, born the same year as White Fang. He bullies White Fang relentlessly, which contributes to White Fang's development into a mean and solitary creature.

Matt

Matt is Weedon Scott's musher, assisting Scott in rescuing White Fang from a bulldog and helping to rehabilitate him. Matt is the one who realizes that White Fang is part dog and has been trained to pull a sled.

Mit-sah

Mit-sah is Gray Beaver's son. When White Fang is still a puppy, he helps pull Mit-sah's child-sized sled during family trips.

One-Eye

One-Eye is an old but cunning male wolf who earns the right to mate with Kiche by defeating his two rivals. White Fang is the only surviving pup from this litter.

Salmon Tongue

Salmon Tongue is one of the Indians accompanying Gray Beaver when they find White Fang and Kiche.

Alice Scott

Alice is Weedon's wife. When she learns that Jim Hall has escaped from prison, she begins allowing White Fang into the house each night after the family has gone to bed. This precaution ultimately saves their lives.

Beth Scott

Beth is one of Weedon's two sisters, living at the estate with the extended family. She tenderly helps care for White Fang after he saves the family from Jim Hall.

Judge Scott

Judge Scott is Weedon's father, a retired judge residing at the estate with the extended family. Initially, he is hesitant to trust White Fang but admits his mistake when White Fang proves his loyalty. After White Fang saves the family from Jim Hall, the judge is so grateful that he calls in the best doctors, rather than veterinarians, to care for him.

Mary Scott

Mary is one of Weedon’s two sisters, residing at the estate with the extended family. She tenderly helps care for White Fang after he rescues the family from Jim Hall.

Maud Scott

Maud is Weedon Scott’s six-year-old daughter. White Fang recognizes the children’s importance to his master, and he grows to appreciate their affection.

Weedon Scott

Weedon Scott, a mining expert from California, visits the Yukon briefly. He arrives at a dogfight where White Fang is on the verge of being killed by a bulldog and is being viciously kicked by Beauty Smith. After saving White Fang, Scott asks his musher, Matt, about the value of a dog in White Fang’s condition. He then pays Beauty Smith and takes White Fang, despite Smith’s objections.

Scott rehabilitates White Fang with consistent gentleness, kindness, and affection, even though White Fang bites him at the first opportunity. When discipline is necessary, Scott uses words instead of physical punishment, except in very serious situations. White Fang becomes so devoted to Scott that he breaks through a window to avoid being left behind when Scott returns to California. Eventually, Scott takes White Fang with him, and White Fang later saves the family from a murderer. Weedon Scott Jr.

Weedon Jr. is the elder Scott’s four-year-old son.

She-Wolf

See Kiche

Beauty Smith

Beauty Smith, the cook at Fort Yukon, is an ugly and cruel man. He goes to great lengths to convince Gray Beaver to sell White Fang to him and then mistreats White Fang to make him as aggressive as possible. Beauty’s aim is to profit by entering White Fang in dogfights, which continues until Weedon Scott intervenes.

Three Eagles

Three Eagles is one of the Indians with Gray Beaver when they find White Fang and Kiche. Shortly afterward, Gray Beaver gives Kiche to Three Eagles, who takes her on a long journey.

Weedon Scott’s Mother

Her name is not mentioned, but she lives with the extended family at the estate.

Characters

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Much like in "The Call of the Wild" (1903), the majority of "White Fang" is narrated from the perspective of the canine protagonist. Readers are clearly intended to empathize with White Fang's struggle for survival and his challenging journey towards understanding civilization. However, unlike Buck, the protagonist in "The Call of the Wild," who reaches a mythical status as the Ghost Dog of the North, White Fang transforms into "The Blessed Wolf," a heroic protector of his master's life and property. His assimilation and taming are depicted in the novel's final scene, where he is seen basking in the sun, playing with his mate's puppies.

Similar to "The Call of the Wild," the human characters in "White Fang" represent various environmental influences that shape the protagonist. Gray Beaver, an Indian, is the first to persuade White Fang to coexist with humans. Beauty Smith, who is depicted as both physically and morally grotesque, exploits White Fang by turning him into "the Fighting Wolf" and making money from dog fights. White Fang is eventually rescued by Weedon Scott, a mining engineer who believes that "the ill done to White Fang was a debt incurred by man." Scott teaches White Fang about love as a "matter of principle and conscience."

Conversely, Jim Hall, an escaped convict who White Fang kills in the novel's climactic confrontation, serves as a stark contrast to the protagonist. Hall, who was "railroaded" by a "police conspiracy" unbeknownst to Judge Scott, has been deformed by brutal prison conditions into "a man and a monstrosity, as fearful a thing of fear as ever gibbered in the visions of a maddened brain." His character serves as a reminder that environmental influences have the power to destroy as well as to build.

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