To Build A Fire, By Jack London

In the story “To Build a Fire” by Jack London, a man of inexperience, stubbornness, and lack of imagination embarks on the less traveled route of the Yukon trail without a companion or any means of survival resources at his disposal. In fact, the only necessity that was given an ounce of thought was the man’s lunch for that very evening, sticking close to his bare chest so the food would not freeze. The man, however, decided that his husky’s company would be enough of an aide as he makes his way to meet his boys at a campsite before night fall. Never to have experienced true winter, the man sets off in the fifty below zero freezing weather, ignoring the words of the old-timer. The story “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane tells of the desperate attempt at life by a small crew of sailors. The four members of the crew: Captain, oiler, correspondent, and cook, are stranded onto a small sized boat that with even
The waves crashing up against and all around the tiny boat that carried four sailors does not procure too much stability, safety, or shelter to any one of the crew member. So in an effort of survival, the crew, “In the meantime the oiler rowed, and then the correspondent rowed, and then the oiler rowed.” (194). The tactic of switching on and off with one of the crewmate in an attempt to balance rest and keeping the boat afloat and safe from excess water, essentially to keep too much from weighing the boat down. Each of the crew members relied on one another. There was that camaraderie that existed, which when it really comes down to it, was the connection and the shared experience that may have done more to encourage the sailors. The routine switching of the oars provided aide towards keeping the boat afloat as well as the comfort and needed rest to the boat members. The presence of companions fed the crew the will to work hard so as to reach dry