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Zachary

Mr. Butler

White Fang essay

01 January 2017

White Fang essay

In life everyone encounters conflict and although unsavory, it can lead to the defining of one's

character in certain situations. One may break their leg, and while part of them is immobilized,

the rest of them becomes stronger and when fully healed, they come out better than they were

before. This can also be seen in White Fang, while culture maintained a firm hold on White

Fangs development, he strengthened still, becoming glorious, and when he was healed finally,

released from the vaselike grip of the hand of man that controlled him, he changed and became

whole. In the novel White Fang, Jack London's character White Fang encounters much conflict

and though this conflict gains new depth.There is no doubt that Jack London presents White

Fangs dynamic character though the conflict between culture and nature.This can be seen though

culture controlling White Fangs life, the camps hatred towards him, and Beauty Smiths cruelty.

There is no doubt that culture is responsible for all of White Fangs change after the first few

chapters of the story.

For example, soon after White Fang was brought to the Native American camp it said, He

belonged to them as all dogs belonged to them. His actions were theirs to command. ( P. 159)

This shows that White Fang was controlled entirely by culture.

This also shows that Jack London used strong and advanced diction to tell of White Fangs

submittance to not just Gray Beaver and the camp, but to culture itself.
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In addition in White Fangs early days in the camp it said He acquired a reputation for

wickedness amongst the man-animals themselves. Wherever there was trouble and uproar in

camp, fighting and squabbling or the outcry of a squaw over a bit of stolen meat, they were sure

to find White Fang mixed up in it and usually at the bottom of it. They did not bother to look

after the causes of his conduct. ( P. 166)

This quote shows that the camp made White Fang wicked, but that White Fang did not make

himself wicked.

This also shows that White Fang was merely responding in full to the aggressiveness of the camp

directed at him. They did not bother to look after the causes of his conduct, someone's conduct

is how they behave, and White Fangs behavior was in retaliation. Jack London was saying that

while White Fang was involved in many of the camps troubles, it was not him starting it, it was

the domesticated dogs of man instead.

Conclusion

In summation, the evidence provided proves that culture was the puppetmaster of White Fangs

existence after he left the wild.

There is no doubt that Jack London uses conflict early on in White Fang's life to prevent him

from temporarily developing an ability to care.

For example, White Fangs situation in the Native American camp described by London was,

Hated by his kind and by mankind, indomitable, perpetually warred upon and himself waging

perpetual war, his development was rapid and one sided.This was no soil for kindliness and

affection to blossom in. ( P. 169)

This shows that White Fang evolved into an animal more vicious than nature had intended

because of the interference of culture.

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This also shows that to convey the entire spectrum of the hate aimed at White Fang, Jack London

swapped The camp with Mankind. This was a choice of strong diction being used yet again

by London.

In addition, when White Fang was about to be touched by mans hand it said It was a torment,

this hand that touched him that violated his instinct. He could not forget all the evil that had been

wrought at the hands of men. ( P. 231)

This shows that Jack London made White Fang fear the hand because of all the hardship White

Fang had faced, because the hand symbolised pain and mistrust and cruelty.

This also shows the internal struggle White Fang faces as he knows only half the hand of man,

the cruel hand, he is bristling, fearing the hand but he knows not to touch this sacred hand of man

for he understands what will follow.

Conclusion

In brief, the reader can clearly see that Jack London uses the conflict White Fang has faced as a

way to completely prevent White Fang from developing an ability to care.

There is no doubt that Beauty Smith represents culture and White Fang nature, and that culture

has a natural desire to control nature.

For example in the book Jack London shows that Beauty Smith had a great interest in White

Fang and a desire to control him. This was the man that looked at White Fang, delighted by his

ferocious prowess, and desired to possess him.( P. 203)

This shows that culture desires mastery over nature.

This also shows that nature when controlled and manipulated by culture becomes terrible

because in the wild, animals know no evil but that is not the case in man and in culture.
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In addition Jack london describes Beauty Smith as a monstrosity, Nature had been niggardly

with him ( P. 202) he was something even nature did not want, that she was ungenerous in her

making of him. That he was born that way, the difference is that White Fang became a monster

only because it was forced upon him, ironically this means that Beauty Smith in this case was

more natural than White Fang.

This shows that nature, while dangerous is never evil unless manipulated while culture can be

evil from the beginning.

This is because with the bringing of culture, and a desire to control, there will always be evil.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, Beauty Smith can represent culture or man and their impurity compared to nature.

When culture was first introduced to nature, it desired not to understand but to control. And

while in awe, it was not for the majestic side of nature but for its ferociousness, desiring entirely

to use it as a sculptor for its own future, for selfish and impure reasons.
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Works Cited

London, Jack. White Fang. New York: Macmillan, 1906. Print