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Essay / Representation of Darwin's theory in White Fang
Jack London is known for using naturalism and brutality as themes in his novels; however, it is also common for him to use philosophical ideas to advance his plots. An example that demonstrates this effectively is London's White Fang, which draws significantly on Charles Darwin's theories on survival and competition. More specifically, this work focuses on the study of Social Darwinism, which is a belief that "the process of natural selection acting on population variations would result in the survival of the best competitors and continued improvement of the population" (" Social Darwinism »1). This theory is articulated in the White Fang's behavior changes in different environments. White Fang shows how a person's behavior adapts to external influences and demonstrates the underlying presence of Social Darwinism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay The human characters have a significant impact on White Fang, causing major changes in his behavior. One of these alterations occurs when he is forced into an unfamiliar and hostile environment. He must learn to survive with his new master, Beauty Smith, described as "a sadistic master who beats White Fang and starves him to make him fight harder" (Reesman 3). Smith's neglect and abuse have a significant impact on White Fang, as he must now learn new tactics to survive. Through this struggle, he learns to behave like a vicious beast in order to survive and protect himself from death. Eventually this causes him to fight and often kill any dog that crosses his path. Virginia Crane explains how White Fang gets the nickname "Fighting Wolf" by being "abused and exploited so harshly that he turns into a ferocious killer" (Crane 3). With Smith in charge, White Fang learns and replicates Smith's immoral and malicious traits. Smith treats him with such cruelty that he must adapt to a hostile environment to avoid being killed. London states that, because White Fang was beaten and chained for a long time, "[White Fang] has now become the enemy of all things, and more fierce than ever." He was so tormented that he hated blindly and without the slightest spark of reason” (London 220). White Fang begins to manifest the hatred he receives from Smith, which is another reason why he begins to behave like "the fighting wolf". He now believes that violence is the only way to live, since he has never been treated with love before. Another major change in White Fang occurs when Weedon Scott saves him during a dangerous dog fight. From that moment on, White Fang's life was completely different. Opposing Beauty Smith's qualities, "Scott represents a greater good because he chooses to make the White Fang his responsibility, and he chooses to know that he is going after a killer" (Norvell 2). Being treated with the care and love that Scott gives him is new to White Fang, so he must relearn how to behave and survive his entire life in this environment. Although it's a challenge for both of them, Scott doesn't give up while training White Fang and helping him build a new reputation. White Fang's behavior change is tested and proven when he resists his natural instinct to kill other dogs when they begin to attack him. Norvell explains that "White Fang has learned not to attack dogs and so he absorbs their abuse for Scott's sake" (Norvell 2). Previously, White Fang did not knowhow to survive except by fighting and killing to exclude any competition. Scott treats White Fang with love and patience, so White Fang adapts to this behavior and changes his lifestyle. Instead of resorting to violence, White Fang ignores the other dogs and behaves calmly, showing how Scott is an overall good influence on White Fang. Virginia Crane agrees, stating that "allegiance and affection for a man arise from this good treatment, and White Fang becomes 'the blessed wolf'" (Crane 3). Thanks to Weedon Scott's good nature, White Fang finally learns to love and care for himself. This marks the end of his days as a fighting wolf and the beginning of his new reputation as a blessed wolf. The White Fang's behavior changes to ensure its survival in each environment, suggesting the idea of Social Darwinism. London includes this particular philosophical idea because of White Fang's two opposing behaviors and how his ability to adapt and survive easily proves that he is one of the strongest dogs in the idea of survival of the strongest. Using Smith and Scott “allows Jack London to re-examine behavioral adaptation via the principles of Darwinian evolution. It shows how chance, nature, and external influences function as forces that shape the evolution of all animals” (Vermaas “White Fang” 1). Vermaas suggests that London's use of White Fang adaptations and behaviors further demonstrates the idea of Social Darwinism. The external influences are Smith and Scott, both of whom play significant roles in White Fang's behavior. At this time in White Fang's life, "they were his environment, these men, and they shaped his clay into something fiercer than nature intended." However, nature had given him plasticity. Where many other animals would have died or had their spirits broken, he adapted and lived, and at no cost to his spirit” (London 222). London describes how strong White Fang is and depicts Social Darwinism due to how he easily adapts to environments that would result in the death of weaker animals. During White Fang's time with Smith, White Fang is transformed into a brutal wolf due to the poor treatment he receives. . White Fang adapts quickly and lives this new life of violence, which would usually be a struggle for other dogs. Crane argues this point by reminding us how "repeatedly, [White Fang] is brought to the brink of extinction, only to recover by adapting to the laws that govern its own nature and the laws that structure its new environments." (Crane 4). Each environment has a different set of laws. London again expresses this idea through the laws of nature and how “White Fang knew the law well: to oppress the weak and obey the strong” (London 187). By learning these new laws, he is able to modify his actions accordingly. Matthew Bruccoli believes that “domestication of the wolf is complete when White Fang sires a litter of cubs, proving that adaptability is the key to survival” (Bruccoli 1). The internal conflict and major change within White Fang ends at the end of the novel when White Fang becomes accustomed to the domestic way of life. He begins to behave more like a house dog rather than a wild wolf struggling to survive. White Fang shows how the theory of Social Darwinism will have an effect on a person's behavior, as it causes them to adapt to changes in the environment while fighting for survival. Through the influences of Scott and Smith and the ideas of Social Darwinism, White Fang offers evidence of its behavioral adaptations. This." 2015