Jack London wrote White Fang during the era of the Klondike Gold Rush of 1887. Inspirations for the book highlight many of London’s adventures and experiences during the Alaskan rush. London applies Realism in his novels the most. In brief, White Fang features the rigors of a wolf-dog born wild but who becomes docile gradually after Grey Beaver domesticates him. White Fang grows up unloved and rabid. Other dogs bully him profusely, and his queue of masters transfer from being brutal to savage. It is only after a particular master adopts him does he experience affection and concord for the first time.
Thus, the historical period, the author’s life, and the literary period of White Fang are the three aspects that influence Jack London’s writings. There is a unique correlation between the historical period of White Fang and the novel itself. The purchase of Alaska attracted many people to venture North in hopes of obtaining wealth. Originally, the public had mocked Senator Folly’s purchase of Alaska as “Seward’s Icebox” thinking that Russia’s bargain was a sham. However, the media was proven wrong when investigators revealed Alaska to be rich in several natural materials, including gold (“Rush for Gold”).
The Klondike Gold Rush ranks as among one of the greatest gold rushes in all history. Prospectors, stampeders, and gold seekers inundated the Yukon region equipped with disingenuous and overly ambitious thoughts. Several individuals thought finding gold would be easy. Yet, by August 1898 many returned home, most of them broke (“What Was the Klondike…”). Overall, the Klondike Gold Rush accelerated the media’s attention towards the northern frontiers of Alaska and Canada (“The Rush for Gold”).
Two historical facts cited in White Fang are when Grey Beaver adopts White Fang and when the Aurora unloads people in search of gold with those returning back to San Francisco. These episodes contribute to history because, because Grey Beaver is a Native American man and the fact that London’s writings focus predominately on realism, it is probable to say that London lived in concurrent time periods as the Native Americans. Hence, the mention of the Klondike Gold Rush and Native Americans attributed to the plot of White Fang What is more, London’s experiences growing up and at the Yukon influence the ideas he exhibits in White Fang.
London and his family struggled economically. Because fighting in the Civil War had debilitated Jack’s father’s ability to work, the London family struggled to earn a living (Schulz). As an adolescent, London involved himself in several labor-extensive jobs. He “pirated for oysters on San Francisco Bay, served on a fish patrol to capture poachers, sailed the Pacific on a sealing ship, joined Kelly’s Army for unemployed men…, and attended high school at age nineteen” (Schulz). Eventually, though, being a bibliophile, London sought to become a writer to avoid the atrocious conditions of being a factory worker.
Someone who encouraged and motivated London towards success was Flora Wellman, his mother. Flora Wellman, the fifth child, and daughter in the family, favored individualism (Schulz). She was independent, educated, and confident. She violated convention and persisted in standing out among her siblings during her childhood years. After her husband John London died in 1897, everyone thought that London should work at a post office; however, Flora prompted him to compete in a newspaper contest instead, leading him to his first publication (Schulz).
One can understand London through his descriptions of the “Northland Wild” in accordance with his philosophical references. After all London’s unorthodox upbringings did bring him to treasure the concepts of Darwinism and Socialism. In the Trail of Meat, because London has been in the frozen terrain of the “Northern Wild”, he possesses a distinct, unusual way of describing the environment (London 1-2). How he juxtaposes the malevolent Wild’s hatred for life and its attempt to sway “restless men” into submission ties well with his liking of Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy— “socialist superman” (Sciambra).
Basically, the “superman” philosophy asserts the prominence of being superior in the theory of “survival of the fittest. Above all, London’s family’s poverty, mom, and treasured philosophies impacted his writing career. Lastly, although one can categorize some events in White Fang as Realism, Regionalism, and Naturalism, London focuses primarily on the literary element Realism. Realism is the literary period in which reality shapes a character’s thoughts and actions. Briefly, character development, natural forces, and local color are a few concepts espoused in the literary element (Pepper).
Below is an analysis of how character development, natural forces, and local color are exerted in White Fang. For the device character development, an occurrence where the element is used is when some unknown force, later identified as the she-wolf, sucks Bill and Henry’s sled dogs in a “black hole” metaphorically and not a trace of them is left the next day (London 36-37). This disappearance of Bill’s and Henry’s dogs beginning to vanish one-by-one by the she-wolf subordinates under character development because progressively the reader’s awareness of the she-wolf’s cunning, clever, and assertive demeanor manifests.
Another scene where character development of the she-wolf can be seen is once winter starts and the population of female wolves shrinks and the swooning of male wolves escalate, the she-wolf’s temper rises too, as she tries to fend her suitors away (London 43). The narrator points out that—because many males have attempted in her past to steal her as their mate—selection is the only way to guarantee survival. Finally, once White Fang discovers the opening to the cave is not just another tangible, mundane wall but a frightening “Door into the Wild”, he transitions from being clueless to more wilderness savvy (London 74-75).
Next, three instances of local color in White Fang include the mention of the icy land of the Yukon territory, the customs of the Native Americans, and the nature of San Francisco. In the Trail of Meat, London attaches the cold “Northland Wild” with a pejorative connotation. London argues that the wild never hesitates to terminate all life and movement. It freezes the water in ponds, saps in trees, and etc. (London 1-2). Later, London describes that in the eyes of White Fang, Native Americans are the most superior animals: they make tepees, control dogs, and conduct fire (London 94).
White Fang’s admiration towards the native Americans eventually converts him from being wild to domestic. Last of all, once the steamer arrives in San Francisco, White Fang stares mesmerized by the exchange of rural to urban life in a boat ride. Towering buildings supplant log cabins, and streets flock with automobiles, wagons, and carts. Unquestionably, Alaska’s atmosphere contrasts from San Francisco’s. All in all, local color can be recognized in the depictions of the icy land of the Yukon territory, the customs of the Native Americans, and the nature of San Francisco (London 174).
Man versus outside forces displays Realism elements in White Fang too. Even as a pup, White Fang distinguishes from his siblings because of his tough and shrewd temperament. He constantly feels attached to the light near the forbidden zone of the cave’s entrance, even though his mother claw him away from danger repeatedly (London 16). Furthermore, White Fang must deal with the village bully, Lip-Lip. Lip-Lip robs White Fang of his puppyhood by garnering all the other puppies to team up and bully him incessantly (London 109).
Finally, White Fang experiences a dilemma when a marauder seeks to steal his food during a famine. During a period of famine, White Fang encounters a dead moose. Standing adjacent to him is Beseek, an old grizzly hound—who is also interested in the moose. Because White Fang sees Beseek as a threat to his food, White Fang slits his throat (London 145). Above all, man versus outside forces composes of White Fang’s attachment towards danger, Lip-Lip and the other dog’s torments, and Bazeek’s threatening approach towards White Fang’s food.
The historical period, the author’s life, and the literary period of White Fang are the three aspects that affect Jack London’s writing. Jack London wrote White Fang parallel to the Klondike Gold Rush. Sundry folks sold their possessions in hopes of hitting gold. Nonetheless, once they reached their destiny, few people survived the Yukon’s rugged landscape. London correlates his portrayals of White Fang to his experiences at the Yukon. Growing up, Flora Wellman—London’s mother inspired him the most. She was an original and unorthodox mother. Inspirations for an array of London’s first mirror his Yukon travels.
