What makes it great?
White Fang is a book that explores the possibility and realism of nature and survival. The book focuses on the power of nature and civilization together, and the usage of environment shaping the characters. It discusses the wolf’s harsh life when dealing with humans and learning the meaning to survive, until someone takes him in and he learns the feeling of love and compassion.
Whats different from the films?
White Fang is a brutal story that closely follows the wolf's emotional development and rough life. The 1991 Disney film switches the point of view to a boy, Jack, who becomes the main character. The movie also focuses on toning down the violence and showcasing the human, animal bond. The 2018 animated Netflix version goes even further in simplifying the story for children, removing most of the fight scenes, adding a female character, Mrs. Scott, and changing characters such as Scott into a marshal, which helps bring out the themes of friendship and nature's beauty instead of the original book's harsh laws of nature.
Characters
Note: Images shown are from film adaptations and do not appear in the original book.
Image Credit: Disney Movies
White Fang
The protagonist of the novel. He is the epitome of the "survival of the fittest" as he is the only one of his litter to survive a famine. He gains a reputation as one of the most ferocious dogs in the Northland, but eventually is civilized.
Image Credit: Disney Wiki
Kiche
The she-wolf who appears in Parts I and II of the novel. She is responsible for luring away the sled dogs for food for the hungry wolves. Kiche is the mother of White Fang.
One-Eye (White Fang's Father)
Father to White Fang who is killed by a lynx when White Fang is still a cub.
Image Credit: Disney Wiki
Gray Beaver
The Indian who owns White Fang and his mother. He is the master that teaches White Fang the lessons of the gods. He is a neutral master, neither as cruel as Beauty Smith, nor as kind as Weedon Scott. Gray Beaver eventually trades his dog for the white man's whiskey.
Image Credit: Heroes Wiki
Weedon Scott
An important gold miner who rescues White Fang. He represents the good in life and is able to transform the wolf into a civilized animal.
Image Credit: Villians Wiki
Beauty Smith
A very ugly and cruel man who tricks Gray Beaver into selling him White Fang in exchange for whiskey. He turns White Fang into the "Fighting Wolf" by constantly tormenting him, both physically and emotionally. He has White Fang fight other dogs in order to earn money.
Bill
One of two sled drivers in Part I who are pursued by a pack of hungry wolves. He is eventually killed by the wolves.
Henry
The other sled driver who is rescued by other men just as the wolves are closing in on him.
Mit-sah
Gray Beaver's son. He is responsible for the sled dog team that White Fang will lead.
Lip-Lip
One of the dogs in the Indian camp. He is responsible for making White Fang's life miserable, but ultimately is killed by White Fang.
Cherokee
The bulldog that almost kills White Fang. He is the only dog to ever get close to killing White Fang.