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The Oblong Box/ Coffin
As a pup, White Fang first encounters light at the entrance of the cave, where he is born. He perceives light as a permeable wall by which his father, One Eye, enters and exits the cave. Though White Fang is forbidden to cross the threshold, he crawls towards the light, growing like a flower under its rays. Light, in this way, symbolizes the inborn yearning of all creatures towards growth and development.
Light Quotes in White Fang
The White Fang quotes below all refer to the symbol of Light. 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:
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Part 2, Chapter 3
Quotes
The life that was so swiftly expanding within [White Fang] urged him continually toward the wall of light.
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Part 2, Chapter 4
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But there were forces at work in the cub, the greatest of which was growth. Instinct and law demanded of him obedience. But growth demanded disobedience. His mother and fear impelled him to keep away from the white wall. Growth is life, and life is forever destined to make for life.
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Light Symbol Timeline in White Fang
The timeline below shows where the symbol Light appears in White Fang. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 2, Chapter 3
...eyes not yet opened, he senses and smells the world around him, crawling towards the light at the entrance of the cave.
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The she-wolf rebukes the gray cub for crawling towards the light. From her sharp nudges and swift strokes, he feels pain and learns to avoid hurt.
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Yet, the gray cub's fascination with the light at the edge of the cave increases everyday. He perceives it as a wall of...
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Part 2, Chapter 4
...dissipates and "the rush of life" increases, causing him to crawl towards the wall of light.
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