White Fang · Chapter
The Indomitable explained
Weedon Scott and Matt debate whether White Fang can ever be tamed.
What happens
Weedon Scott and Matt debate whether White Fang can ever be tamed. After being freed from his chain, White Fang kills Major for stealing his meat and bites Matt when kicked. Scott draws a revolver to kill White Fang, but Matt argues for giving him a chance. Scott puts away the gun and attempts to pet White Fang, who bites him. Matt grabs a rifle to kill the wolf, but Scott pleads for another chance, noting White Fang's intelligence and selective aggression.
Themes in this chapter
Cruelty and Kindness
Scott's attempt at kindness (tossing meat, gentle talk) is met with violence, while Matt's use of a club and the threat of the rifle show the cruelty that White Fang expects.
Mastery and Loyalty
White Fang's past mastery by Beauty Smith is evident; Scott and Matt debate whether he can be mastered again through kindness or force.
Survival and Adaptation
White Fang's instinct to fight for his meat and his wariness of humans demonstrate his survival-driven behavior, while his intelligence shows potential for adaptation.
Characters to notice
- White Fang
Shows indomitable spirit, kills Major, bites Matt and Scott, but demonstrates intelligence by snarling only at Matt when he reaches for the rifle.
- Weedon Scott
Initially hopeless about taming White Fang, he draws a revolver but is persuaded to give the wolf a chance; gets bitten when trying to pet him.
- Matt
Dog-musher who frees White Fang, gets bitten after kicking him, argues for giving the wolf a chance, and later grabs a rifle to kill him but is stopped by Scott.
- Major
Sled-dog killed by White Fang after trying to steal the meat Scott tossed.
Key passages
“It's a wolf and there's no taming it”
Weedon Scott declares that White Fang is a wild wolf that cannot be domesticated.
Scott expresses hopelessness about taming White Fang.
“Wolf or dog, it's all the same—he's ben tamed 'ready.”
Matt argues that White Fang has already been tamed, evidenced by the harness marks on his chest.
Matt points out that White Fang was once a sled dog.
“Give 'm a chance. Turn 'm loose for a spell.”
Matt advises Scott to release White Fang from his chain and give him an opportunity to prove himself.
Matt suggests freeing White Fang as a test.
“He knows the meaning of firearms as well as you do. He's got intelligence and we've got to give that intelligence a chance.”
Scott notes that White Fang understands the threat of a gun and argues that his intelligence deserves a chance to be tamed.
Scott uses White Fang's reaction to the rifle as evidence of his intelligence.