LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 24:9 September 2024
ISSN 1930-2940

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         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
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         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

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Human-Animal Relationship: A Study of White Fang

Divya Lekshmi M. S., M.A., M.Phil.
Prof. M. Raja Vishwanathan, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.

Abstract

‘White Fang’ is a novel by Jack London. The protagonist of the novel is White Fang, a wolf-dog. This paper aims to understand the merits of the human-animal relationship and the compassionate ways in which animals comprehend things and adapt themselves to a harmonious-domestic life. Born in the wild, White Fang adapts to domestic life with Weedon Scott and his family. The role of White Fang in their life is commendable as implied in how the family treats him.

The framework adopted here is the human-animal relationship and animal emotions as explained by Margo DeMello in ‘Animals and Society: An Introduction to Human-Animal Studies’. Ethologists admit that animals share with humans not only the primary human emotions of happiness, fear, anger, surprise and sadness but also secondary emotions such as regret, longing or jealousy. White Fang undergoes many of these primary and secondary emotions as Jack London vividly portrays it throughout the novel.

Psychologist Michael Fox has introduced four categories of pet-owner relationships: object-oriented relationships, utilitarian relationships, need-dependency relationships, and actualising relationships. White Fang and Weedon Scott share an actualizing relationship in which the person’s relationship with the animal is fully equal and based on mutual respect.

Animals are sentient beings. Having a relationship with animals can have a positive impact on both humans and animals. The suffering of animals demands some kind of moral consideration and empathy from humans.

Keywords: White Fang, human-animal relationship, emotions, cognition, sentient, empathy.

Introduction

Human-animal interaction is vital in current times. Anxiety and stress are very common, but the time spent with a pet animal can bring a lot of positivity to grieving and stressed humans. The bond between humans is degrading in a self-centred lifestyle. Animals can be good companions to erase loneliness and depression. They are beings that are loyal, and trustworthy.

In the history of Western philosophy, animals have been devalued as lacking in reason. "In denying animals capacities for reason, language, and belief, Aristotle denies them the richness and complexity of mental experience that is evident in human beings. . ." writes Gary Steiner in his book Anthropomorphism and Its Discontents (63). But ethologists like Jane Goodall understand animal emotions and behaviour. She lived with chimpanzees in the Gombe National Park, Tanzania for decades and through in situ observation and experiments, discovered that animals possess reasoning skills and language abilities.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Divya Lekshmi M. S., M.A., M.Phil.
Research Scholar, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
National Institute of Technology Warangal, Telangana
India 506004
dl22hsr1r03@student.nitw.ac.in

Prof. M. Raja Vishwanathan, M.A., M.Phil, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
National Institute of Technology Warangal, Telangana
India 506004
vishwanathan@nitw.ac.in
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