The Identity of White Fang: how environment shapes one's worldview and sense of self Anonymous College

In the eyes of Jack London, the true creator of identity and worldview is not a singular person or being, but instead experience and environment. London illustrates this idea of surroundings and experiences being the greatest teacher in one of his most popular novels, White Fang. In this novel, a young wolf cub is the only surfing pup of a she-wolf who is half dog. Shortly after he learns to live and survive in the harsh and desolate Yukon, the she-wolf takes White Fang and returns to the village and her master. There he develops a very adversarial relationship with other dogs and a reluctant and fearful but dependent relationship with Grey Beaver. (London, 106) Eventually, White Fang’s journey landed him in a larger more populated city where he finds new ownership and companionship with Weedon Scott. He adapts to the city just in time to move once again to spend the rest of his time in peace. London uses the turbulent and ever changing life of White Fang and his necessity to adapt to demonstrate his beliefs about the creation and formation of identity and worldview. In his novel, White Fang, Jack London argues that the true creators of identity and worldview are environment and experience.

White Fang’s ideas about how the...