Man Vs. Nature In Jack London's To Build A Fire

As human beings we interpret everything we approach each day differently than the next. In “To Build A Fire” we observe as Jack London describes the constant conflict of man versus nature. In the beginning of the story we open into mid-day and “forty-eight below”, a young man with high expectations and a unreliable sense of self mortality. We see this man as an ambitious soul trying to make his journey to a life of fulfillment.

“To Build A Fire” mainly focuses on man versus nature, however the conflict itself seems to be one sided. In this particular story the man seems to be the undeniable factor of his own discrepancy between life and death, or in his case the man likes being a “know it all”. The man solely provokes nature by
not taking it into consideration as a factor in and throughout his journey.

The man in the story is accompanied by a dog or a “wolf dog” throughout, as it is closely compared to its wild ancestors in the tale.
The dog is as seen, yet there is always more to tell. When the foolishness of the man is outplayed by the force of nature in which is the dogs natural instincts. When faced with the decision to carry on or turn back the foolishness of the man is one sided in the dilemma. The man, which decides to move forward, is fought by the fierce conditions of the cold. “Fifty below zero”, with pressing winds makes for unfortunate passing for the man who doesn't realize what that dangers mean for him. The dog, unknowing of temperatures, is still wittily knowing of how cold it is. This can be sought as understanding of the dog as a natural force of nature that is taken for granted by man.

The story itself provides a perfect example of how to actually survive in the wilderness. The story, without stating, provides an example of human beings in the need to do what we desire no matter the consequences. If the man would have taken the time to think of his actions and not have been set out in hopes of great wealth, but in consideration of what the journey might hold for him the story wouldn't have ended the way it
did.

Along his journey London describes in due time how nature is truly the unstoppable force holding the fate and control of man. Unseen events happen as the man journeys his quest. A part of the story where the man breaks through a thin sheet of ice and into water truly depicts the powerful force of nature. Some say that everything happens for a reason. In this case nature being the ultimate deterrent in the man’s fate decides when something could possible go terribly wrong for the man. Nature controls everything that happens whether it is for an actual meaningful reason or not. Nature was the deciding factor in whether or not the man would fall through the ice not the man. I would not consider this to be an attack of man by nature, but rather pure carelessness on the man’s plan to succeed.

In the end of “To Build A Fire” nature proves itself to be the fully developed municipal to the world. The man, when reaching the horrendous downfall of his journey is found hopeless. London shows how weak man really is, and has the constant need to survive. The man without the heart filled hand of nature to provide fire for himself freezes to death. The dog, as can be a clear reminder of nature, survives. Unlike foolish man who is in recurring need of nature in order to foster survival for himself. The dog is able to use naturally given instincts for his own survival without the helping hand of man. The story as a entire entity reminds us as humans that nature, as reliant as we are in need of it, has no immediate dire-need of us. Without man nature would live on and as man without nature we would surely perish as “To Build A Fire” clearly represents