Major Themes
Critics have identified many underlying themes in the novel. Tom Feller describes the story as “an allegory of humanity’s progression from nature to civilization." He also expresses that “the implication is that the metamorphosis of both the individual and society will require violence at some point." Paul Deane states that “ society demands a conformity that undermines individualism." Jack London himself took influence from Herbert Spencer’s words: “survival of the fittest”, as well as Friedrich Nietzsche’s idea of a “superman” (or “superdog”, in this instance) and of “the worship of power."
Read more about this topic: White Fang
Famous quotes containing the words major and/or themes:
“All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.”
—John Kenneth Galbraith (b. 1908)
“In economics, we borrowed from the Bourbons; in foreign policy, we drew on themes fashioned by the nomad warriors of the Eurasian steppes. In spiritual matters, we emulated the braying intolerance of our archenemies, the Shiite fundamentalists.”
—Barbara Ehrenreich (b. 1941)