User:SophieSparkyPotter/sandbox

Character list
White Fang is the main character of the book. He is three-fourths wolf, and one-fourth dog. He is born wild, but becomes more dog-like after Grey Beaver domesticates him. He grows up fierce and unloved, constantly bullied by other dogs, and becomes a fighting dog after Beauty Smith buys him. He eventually becomes more loving and friendly after he is bought and tamed by Weedon Scott. He saves Judge Scott’s life by killing Jim Hall, and eventually has six cubs with Collie.

Weedon Scott is White Fang's third master, who is the first to show affection toward him. He saves White Fang from the bulldog and forcefully buys him from Beauty Smith. He tries to tame White Fang, and slowly gains his trust, then finally his love. He takes White Fang to live with him in California.

Grey Beaver is White Fang's first master. He is harsh and shows no affection for his dog, but White Fang still displays loyalty toward him out of respect for his superiority. Grey Beaver only sells White Fang once he becomes addicted to alcohol.

Kiche is White Fang's mother, who is known as the “she-wolf” at the beginning of the novel. She is half wolf, half dog, and used to be Grey Beaver’s brother’s dog, but escaped during a famine. When she returns to the Native Americans, she gets sent away from White Fang, and only sees him once more in the novel, where she chases him off to protect her new cubs.

Lip-lip is another pup who lives in the Native American village. He brutally bullies White Fang throughout his puppyhood and turns all the other dogs against him. White Fang kills him after he flees into the woods during a famine.

Beauty Smith is White Fangs second master. He is an ugly man who gets Grey Beaver addicted to alcohol so that he can buy White Fang. He trains White Fang to become a fighting dog. He tries to steal White Fang back after Scott forcefully buys him, but White Fang brutally attacks him.

One Eye is White Fang's father. He is full wolf, and kills his rivals to mate with Kiche. He is killed by a lynx when he tries to rob its den for food during a famine.

Jim Hall is a criminal who escapes from prison after Judge Scott unjustly sentences him. He attempts to murder Judge Scott, but is attacked and killed by White Fang.

Judge Scott is Weedon Scott's father. He does not trust White Fang completely until he saves his life from Jim Hall.

Collie is a sheepdog on Scott’s farm. She does not trust White Fang at first, but he works his way into her confidence, and they become mates.

Henry is a musher who appears in the first part of the novel with Bill. He is the only one who escapes being eaten by the wolves.

Bill is a musher who appears in the first part of the novel with Henry. The wolves eat him when he attempts to go after the pack with a gun.

Mit-sah is Grey Beaver's son. He runs White Fang and the other dogs on a sled.

Matt is Scott's musher. He feeds White Fang and works him on the sled during the day.

Major Themes
Critics have identified many underlying themes in the novel. Tom Feller describes the story as “an allegory of humanity’s progression from nature to civilization." He also expresses that “the implication [in the story] is that the metamorphosis of both the individual and society will require violence at some point." Paul Deane states that “[in the novel,] society demands a conformity that undermines individualism." Jack London himself took influence from Herbert Spencer’s words: “survival of the fittest”, as well as Friedrich Nietzsche’s idea of a “superman” (or “superdog”, in this instance) and of “the worship of power."

Reception
Upon its release, White Fang was an immediate success worldwide. The novel became popular, especially among younger readers. Robert Greenwood called White Fang “one of London’s most interesting and ambitious works." Virginia Crane claims that the novel is “generally regarded as artistically inferior to its companion piece [The Call of the Wild], but [that it] helped establish London as a popular American literary figure."

Background
The novel is partly an autobiographical allegory based on London’s conversion from teenage hoodlum to married, middle-class writer. In writing it, Jack London was influenced by the ideas of Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Nietzsche. Conditions in the US also had influence on the story.

Adaptations
The novel has been adapted into a motion picture and sequel, as well as audiobook format.

Publication History
Since the novel has been published it has been translated into over eighty-nine different languages, and released as a three-volume braille edition.