Analysis of Human Insignificance Against Nature in “to Build a Fire”

David Durr
Professor Donald Carey
ENGL 1302
1 October 2012

In the short tale To launch a Fire Jack London writes of a hu small-arm beingity who attempts to journey on the Yukon trail at a m of year when the Yukon is at a temperature of, at most, fifty degrees at a lower place zero. The man is hubristic and does not listen to the old-timer on sulphur creek who warns him to always travel with a partner when the temperature is much than fifty degrees below zero. Though the man has no human companion, he is not al 1. His fury comrade is a fauna dog. The canine considers his master nothing more than a provider of fire and one that has the sound of whip-lashes in his voice (London 131). The story documents the success that the man experiences during the beginning stages of his journey; however, after he falls through ice and into freezing cold urine it becomes clear that an ominous fate awaits him. His attempt to build a fire is blotted out when snow that is suspended in a spruce tree suddenly falls directly on top of his fire. As a result of this failure the man freezes to death in the harsh cold of the Yukon. His furry companion, not knowing what to think of the lifeless human, follows his natural survival instincts and hurriedly heads to the nearest encampment to seek out warmth and food.



In To Build a Fire London purposefully creates a nameless character in order to make him a generic representation of the whole of humanity to ultimately punctuate humanitys insignificance in a struggle against nature.
One of the first things one notices when reading this story is the lack of breeding given slightly the protagonist, the man. Particularly his lack of a name. When being introduced to the man the solitary(prenominal) physical description the reader receives regarding him is that he has high daring bones and a red beard and mustache. The lack of information that London gives about the man shows how little he is concern with this man as a unique individual. Rather, London creates...If you hope to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay



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