To Build a Fire” Jack London

“To Build a Fire”

Jack London

Mature Nature

Jack London's works are full of life experience and are deeply realistic. They grasp the reader completely not only by an interesting plot but also by mystery and mostly strong characters. In struggles against power of nature and social conditions characters demonstrate fearlessness, will power, and presence of a strong attitude. Although in most of his stories, characters stay alive and win nature’s war with dignity, the story “To Build a Fire” illustrates how tremendously powerful nature really is and in order to survive in it a person must respect it and admit its power before human beings. The form of criticism used in this essay is reader-response. In “To Build a Fire” Jack London uses the common literary theme nature is powerful. He presents this theme in such a way that it illustrates how nature is indifferent to human suffering, and one should not underestimate nature’s power.

In “To Build a Fire,” the main character underestimates nature’s power and ignores the danger of the cold weather conditions. The narrator states, “he was surprised, however, at the cold. Once in a while the thought reiterated itself that it was very cold and that he had never experienced such cold. As he walked along he rubbed his cheekbones and nose with the back of his mittened hand” (London 82). The protagonist fails to recognize the danger and disregards the numbness in his nose and cheekbones. An open minded person’s instinct tells the person how to act in such situations, to stop the journey and head back before it is too late. However, in London's short story, the main character lacks the understanding of reality. The character sees the power of the cold weather, but he continues on with his journey. His main conflict with nature arises out of the clash of desires and actions. He wants to prove to himself and to others that he can handle the cold climate. His desire for success blinds his common sense and...