# II: The Southland explained — White Fang > Chapter companion for White Fang by Jack London. ## What happens White Fang arrives in San Francisco with Weedon Scott, experiencing overwhelming fear and awe at the city's towering buildings, crowded streets, and noisy vehicles. He is transported by train to the Scott estate in California, where he must adjust to a new environment and confront other dogs, including the sheepdog Collie and the deerhound Dick, while learning to trust the master's family. ## Themes in this chapter ### Wilderness vs. Civilization White Fang is overwhelmed by the civilized city of San Francisco and later must adapt to the domesticated environment of the Scott estate, contrasting his wild origins. ### Mastery and Loyalty White Fang's loyalty to Weedon Scott is tested as he learns to tolerate the master's family and other dogs, obeying commands despite his instincts. ### Instinct vs. Reason White Fang's instinct to attack is overridden by his training and loyalty to the master, as seen when he refrains from fighting Collie and obeys the 'down' command. ## Character check-ins ### White Fang Arrives in San Francisco, awed and fearful of the city; travels to California and faces new dogs Collie and Dick. ### Weedon Scott The love-master who brings White Fang to California, manages his interactions with family and other dogs. ### Collie Sheepdog at the Scott estate who blocks White Fang's path and attacks him, but White Fang refrains from fighting due to instinct. ### Dick Deerhound at the Scott estate who attacks White Fang upon arrival; White Fang is restrained by Weedon Scott. ### Judge Scott Weedon Scott's father, who suggests letting the dogs fight it out and observes White Fang's behavior. ## Key lines > Deep in him, below any reasoning process or act of consciousness, he had associated power with godhead. And never had the white men seemed such marvellous gods as now, when he trod the slimy pavement of San Francisco. White Fang instinctively equated power with divinity, and the white men in San Francisco appeared more godlike than ever before. _Highlights White Fang's perception of humans as gods due to their mastery over the environment._ > The log cabins he had known were replaced by towering buildings. The streets were crowded with perils—wagons, carts, automobiles; great, straining horses pulling huge trucks; and monstrous cable and electric cars hooting and clanging through the midst... The familiar log cabins were gone, replaced by tall buildings and streets filled with dangerous vehicles, including wagons, automobiles, and noisy streetcars. _Describes the overwhelming urban environment that frightens White Fang._ > White Fang, however, was beginning to tolerate this act. No harm seemed to come of it, while the noises the gods made were certainly not threatening. White Fang started to accept the embraces of the master's family, as no harm resulted and their sounds were not aggressive. _Shows White Fang's gradual adaptation to human affection._ > It was a female, and the law of his kind thrust a barrier between. For him to attack her would require nothing less than a violation of his instinct. White Fang's instinct prevented him from attacking Collie because she was female, a rule deeply ingrained in his nature. _Explains White Fang's restraint when confronted by the sheepdog Collie._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/white_fang_se/chapters/part-v-ii-the-southland - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/white_fang_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/white_fang_se/chapters