“To Build a Fire” by Jack London: Critical Analysis

Introduction to the Man’s Journey

In Jack London’s “To Build a Fire,” the author reveals how a man goes through a harsh winter in the forest. Through this journey, he faces multiple obstacles along the way. The main character has to fall back on his own critical thinking. He is left to depend on what he thinks he should do when problems suddenly arise. Before the unnamed man leaves on his expedition he was warned by an old timer “that no man must travel alone in the Klondike after fifty below” (London 238). Yet, the man neglects such advice.This foreshadows his own downfall and how pride gets in the way of what is truly right. Disregarding the advice of the old timer essentially led to a series of obstacles for the man throughout his journey. The mindset the man had within himself cost him his life in the end. By doing so, London illustrates how pride can drastically alter many situations.. London states, “The trouble with him was that he was without imagination” (London 231- 232). This means that without a creative mind simple obstacles will be challenging to get away from. The man was simply not creative enough to get his way out of the harsh conditions he faced. London wants readers to understand that not only did the man indeed need the fire for warmth, but he needed the fire to actually last.

The Man’s Pride and Disregard for Nature’s Power

Through tone, theme and characters, in “To Build a Fire”, Jack London reveals the man’s struggle against nature and his battle against within himself to face obstacles. In addition, the theme that follows is that nature has no mercy for humans whatsoever. The man 'was a newcomer in the land, a chechaquo, and this was his first winter.' Jack London's startling, and even cold, observation of a man's foolish confidence in the face of nature's power forms the story 'To Build a Fire'(Kellie Tabor-Hann). This analyst illustrates how the man's foolishness is a key obstacle he simply will not surpass throughout the story. As the story begins, automatically there is an unpleasant mood that is set. London states, “Day had broken cold and gray, exceedingly cold and gray” (London 231). Already by the first sentence the reader can tell that the setting is in no way pleasant. London makes it clear that it was dark and very cold. However what is the reason for such? After all, London brings up the conditions of the weather of the man countless times. This is to not only remind the reader that the man is in for a road of trouble, but it’s also to set the overall tone of the story. If London had described the conditions as sunny and calm the entire story would be altered. All the details London presents projects a sense of sadness and struggle.

Tone and Setting: The Harsh Reality of Nature

To make matters worse, the man is simply not prepared for the cold itself. Referring back to the theme of pride, this foreshadows how nonchalant the man is about nature itself. The tone of darkness is carried throughout the entire story. As the story progresses context clues tell the reader that no matter what the outcome for the man will not be a good one. Everything from a lack of supplies to wetting his clothes infers that the man's own ignorance is the second biggest challenge to be faced. Analysts of London’s story take time to note how significant the overall details of the story are. By pointing out the details of the tone of the story, the reader is left to infer that the theme can relate to nature and one’s own intelligence. The following themes of pride and ignorance are vibrant through the entire story.

Themes: Pride, Ignorance, and Man versus Nature

First, man versus nature is the most common theme readers pull from the story. Yet, taking a closer look one may argue that the theme of pride stands in the way more the theme for nature itself. This is due to the fact that the man had set his pride aside many times, he just might have been able to combat the harsh weather conditions he was faced with. With this said, the central themes from London’s “To Build a Fire” all points back to pride. Numerous warning signs were given to the man that he simply chose to ignore. Not only did the old timer directly warn him of the struggles he was to face, but the man himself failed to use common sense. Pride is a theme that is featured in many stories. Almost every story that speaks of a tragedy starts with the characters own pride. In stories that feature greek literature, this term is referred to as “hubris”. Ultimately, the man seems to do everything in his power to make his journey successful, but his fatal mistake has been made before he even began his journey.

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This overall theme is also examined by those who analyze the story into further detail. “He didn't heed the old-timer's advice, and decided to travel in temperatures lower than fifty degrees below zero without a traveling partner (Shmoop, 2019). This is yet another example of how from the very beginning of the man's journey he was destined to fail. Alongside the theme of pride, man versus nature also still remains through the entire story. By neglecting the power of nature the man essentially creates his own fate. It is also key to note that nature has no feelings as humans do. While this is evident to most, the man seems to think that everything will work in his favor. Countless mistakes are made by him time and time again. The warning signs are practically thrown in his face, yet he ignores him. . By accenting the essential parts of his story with irony, London directs the reader’s attention to the heartless indifference of nature and thus the existential theme of man’s living a solitary existence in a capricious and harmful universe (Lonestar College, 2019).

The Role of Irony in Highlighting Human Folly

All in all, nature simply doesn’t have mercy on mankind itself. The man would have had a chance at survival if he was to simply not disregard the power of nature itself. There are numerous ways London portrayed his theme throughout the entire story. Setting, imagery, and overall irony all set the theme of the story. The entire story itself is quite ironic. The reader is well aware from the very beginning that no matter what the conditions will overcome the man. However, the view of the main character is simply that he can overcome what is presented to him with little effort. He simply disregards almost every factor which displays to the reader his poor judgement. Dramatic irony is a key factor in the story itself. Often times the reader clearly understands what the man fails to understand. London strategically places details through the entire story to express his point of pride within the man.

This occured in the story as early as the beginning when the setting was described. It reappeared when the old time approached the man. Most can infer that if there is an elderly man warning the character that nothing good is bound to occur throughout the story. Yet, time and time again the man feels as if his little efforts are all he needs in order to persevere through the journey. The characters in this story are the unnamed man, the dog, and the old-time. It is quite the disappointment that the man simply did not take into consideration the conditions he was to face. London expresses his doubt in mankind through this story. While it is nonfictional, the same concept of pride and ignorance is exhibited in everyday life. Such disappointment in mankind is followed by poor judgment that the newcomer has within himself. This story overall vibrantly expresses how mankind shapes their own fate. It is simply the survival of the fittest in the story along with the reality itself. The story can side by side be related to obstacles in real life in a less hypothetical manner. However regardless of the extremities the man faces, it is easy for the reader to relate overall. London shows how if one is simply not capable of even taking kind advice from others his future will not be pleasant. It is obvious how in no way did the man infer that his journey would result in his own death. Yet, this is exactly what London expresses through the entire story. He goes beyond his way to gather details on the setting, the characters, and the details present to center back to his overall theme. The failure of the newcomer to analyze his situation resulted in his downfall.

Conclusion: Lessons on Pride and Survival

Through the entire story, the reader is well aware of the flaws of the newcomer. The lack of reasoning and knowledge of the man can simply be applied with numerous aspects of life. With this said, pure weakness left the newcomer dead. Overall, what London wants to express is simply that mankind must learn to put their pride aside which is essential for survival. “The story’s central theme is one portrayed by many existentialist writers—that man lives a solitary existence which is subject to the relentless, unforgiving forces of nature; an ever so subtle part of this theme is that it is man’s goal to find meaning in his existence” (Lonestar College, 2019). This also displays how the forces of nature contributed to the death of the man. However, like previously stated simple preparation could have avoided the entire downfall of the man. Fate is just another aspect of the story London includes to further express to the reader that the man essentially created his own death. Death is the overall outcome of the countless mistakes made by the newcomer. London does an outstanding job of pointing out how all the factors presented work against the favor of the man in the story. Simple taking precautions would have led to a better fate for the man. All literary analysts express how pride plays a vital role throughout the entire story. How realistic the story makes it easier to apply it to real life. Finally, as the man navigates through his journey pride is the overall factor that strikes him down. “As the man and his animal companion take a less-traveled path to their Yukon camp, they step into a tale of wilderness survival and dire circumstances. London's stark, distanced portrayal is an excellent example of American literary naturalism” (Kellie Tabor-Hann).