Among the huge number of works on the attitude of people to animals, the novel White Fang is especially deep. A very brief summary of this work can begin with the scene of an attack by a pack of starving wolves on two travelers traveling on a dog sled.
The beginning of the story
Wolves follow people on the heels, waiting for the right moment to start the hunt. Predators begin to lead one dog after another. Surprised people notice that their dogs are leaving for a large she-wolf, apparently, who understands dog habits. They conclude that this she-wolf used to live among people and dogs. After the death of all dogs, one of the travelers becomes a victim of the pack, and the second is saved by the Indians. It turned out that the assumptions of the travelers are confirmed. The wolf and the dog were the parents of the she-wolf, and she really lived for a long time among dogs and Indians.
A pack of wolves that attacked travelers disintegrates, and our wolf, along with a seasoned old wolf, begins to search for food on its own. After some time, their offspring is born, all the cubs, except one, die. This wolf cub is the White Fang. A summary of the story of his extraordinary and difficult life awaits you further.
The old wolf dies in the tenacious paws of a lynx. With his mother, Kichi, the wolf cub begins to learn hunting, the main rule of which is if not you, then you. However, full of energy, the little wolf enjoys life in freedom.
The first meeting of the White Fang with people
Fate presents him with a meeting with people. Seeing these unusual creatures, the wolf cub is submissive, following the ancient call laid by his ancestors. But as soon as a man reaches out to him, the wolf cub bites him and gets a strong blow to the head. From pain and horror, he begins to whine, calling for the help of the she-wolf. Mother hurries to help her offspring, but then an Indian named Gray Beaver recognizes her dog Kichi in her and calls her imperiously. The amazed wolf cub sees his proud wolf mother crawling on her belly to her former master. Now they both belong to an old Indian who calls the wolf cub the White Fang.
Life in the camp of the Indians
Further we observe how White Fang gets used to new life among people. We will continue the summary of the novel with a description of the trials that the little wolf will face in the camp of the Indians.
Master Kichi sells the she-wolf, and White Fang is left alone. It is hard for him to adapt to new conditions. People, sometimes cruel, sometimes fair, dictate new laws of life to him. One of them is that he must always obey the Master, and never, under any circumstances, try to bite him again.
In addition, he has to constantly fight dogs, his brothers do not want to recognize him as one of them, they consider him a stranger. He understands that the one who is stronger always wins in a fight.
White Fang grows strong, agile, cruel and cunning. In his heart there is no place for kind feelings and the need for affection, because he himself is deprived of them. But he knows how to run faster than anyone and fight hardest than anyone, and he really emerges victorious from numerous fights.
Escape and return of the White Fang
We will resume the summary of the book White Fang at the time of the wolf's escape from the Indians. During the transition of the Indians to another pasture, the young wolf decides to escape, but, being alone, cannot resist the grief and loneliness that has seized him. He is forced to return to the owners.
Upon returning, the young wolf masters the craft of a sled dog. After some time, he leads the team and rules his brothers with decisive adherence, which makes them even more angry.
Working in a sled team makes White Fang stronger, but turns it from a wolf to a dog. He perceives the world as he sees it, cruel and severe and from now on he will forever serve his master - Man.
With this store of knowledge, the childhood of a wolf cub named White Fang ends. The summary goes on to describe his adult life.
White Fang and Handsome Smith
Once the owner of the White Fang goes to the fort and takes a wolf with him. Gold miners live there, buying fur from the Indians. A strong wolf dog attracts the attention of Handsome Smith, who is trying to persuade an Indian to sell him a dog, but he flatly refuses. Then Handsome Smith generously treats the Indian to alcohol, and he agrees to exchange the White Fang for several bottles of alcohol.
âWhite Fangâ, a brief summary of the chapter on the life of the main character in Handsome Smith, will cause the reader only pity and sympathy.
The new owner was even ruthless than the previous one. He often brutally beats the White Fang, he tries to run twice, but both times Handsome Smith finds him. The dog has no choice but to reconcile and submit to the owner, hating him with all his heart.
Handsome Smith loves to have fun in dog fights and exposes White Fang there. His win-win triumph ends with a loss to the bulldog. This battle nearly ended with the death of the White Fang, engineer Whedon Scott saved him, opening the mouth of the bulldog. Then he persuaded Handsome Smith to sell him a dog. So White Fang got a third boss.
White Fang gains a new master
We continue to follow the story line, which is held by Jack London. âWhite Fangâ - a brief summary - omits all the details of the new life of the White Fang, but includes the main events.
So embittered by the ordeals, White Fang soon came to his senses and showed Widon Scott all his rage. But the new owner treats White Fang with patience and affection, awakening in the dog the feelings that were practically killed in him by a hopeless and cruel life.
The owner is trying to atone for the people who were so inhuman with White Fang. Once, when Scott has to leave unexpectedly, the dog suffers so much without him that he completely loses interest in life. And when the owner returns, White Fang first shows him all his love, clinging to his head. One day, Handsome Smith appears at Mr. Scott's house to steal a dog secretly, but White Fang could fend for himself.
However, it is time for the engineer to return home to California. Scott is not sure that a dog accustomed to the northern cold can live normally in an unusual heat. In the end, Scott decides to leave Fang. But the dog managed to get out of the house, breaking the window, and ran to the departing boat. The owner takes the dog with him.
White Fang Life in California
The summary of the story âWhite Fangâ, as well as the work itself, shows the reader all the power of good.
White Fang's life continues in California, at Wadon Scott's hometown. Here the dogâs life changes completely. He meets a girlfriend, a shepherd named Collie. White Fang gets used to Scott's children and begins to truly love them, they also donât dwell on him. But he especially likes the ownerâs father, Judge Scott. White Fang becomes the favorite and protector of the entire Whedon family.
Judge's Rescue
One day, White Fang even saves a judge from imminent death at the hands of the fierce criminal Jim Hill, who was once convicted of him. The dog bit him, but he himself was seriously injured. Hill shot a dog three times, broke his hind leg and several ribs. White Fang is between life and death, doctors are sure that after such injuries the dog will not survive. But the amazing vitality and healthy body of a dog who grew up in the northern wilderness, pull him out of the arms of death. White Fang is recovering.
The summary of the novel âWhite Fangâ, no less than a complete work, makes one think first of all about human qualities.
The work ends with a pacified scene, when the weakened dog after injuries, staggering slightly, enters the lawn, which is flooded with bright sunlight. Little puppies creep up to him, their offspring with Collie, and, basking in the sun, he plunges into the memories of his life.