Meat symbolizes life and hunger. From an early age, White Fang recognizes the role of meat in life: it sustains life by relieving the potentially fatal pangs of hunger and famine. To eat is to live, and so the "aim of meat [is] life." Under the "law of meat," all animals are potential prey, or sources of meat and life.
The Law of Meat Quotes in White Fang
The White Fang quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Law of Meat. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part 2, Chapter 5
Quotes
The aim of life was meat. Life itself was meat. Life lived on life. There were the eaters and the eaten. The law was: EAT OR BE EATEN.
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
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Explanation and Analysis:
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The Law of Meat Symbol Timeline in White Fang
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Law of Meat appears in White Fang. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 2, Chapter 1
...upon a bull moose. They attack the creature, kill it, and gorge themselves with the meat from its carcass. Finally fed, the pack pairs off into males and females.
(full context)
Part 2, Chapter 3
Famine strikes the she-wolf's lair. One Eye desperately hunts for meat, but all the cubs, save the gray cub, die of hunger.
(full context)
Part 2, Chapter 5
...when the she-wolf brings home a lynx kitten for the cub to eat. But this meat does not come without a cost. The lynx appears in the entrance of the cave...
(full context)
...leg. Together, they kill the lynx and devour her. The cub learns the law of meat: "EAT OR BE EATEN." Having become a skilled hunter and killer, he feels "very much...
(full context)
Part 3, Chapter 6
...elderly hound, Baseek tries to intimidate White Fang into surrendering a prime piece of moose meat. White Fang almost relinquishes it, but defends his right to eat by attacking Baseek.
(full context)
Part 4, Chapter 5
Matt brings out a piece of meat for White Fang. Scott's dog, Major, leaps for it, but White Fang strikes him down,...
(full context)
...dog. But Matt defends White Fang, asserting that White Fang was justified in safeguarding his meat against Major's advance.
(full context)
Part 4, Chapter 6
...speaks to him in a soft and gentle voice and tosses him a piece of meat. Scott offers White Fang another piece of meat, but will not let go of it,...
(full context)
