preview

To Build A Fire, By Jack London

Decent Essays

When one decides to look past the flowery language and romanticized ideas present in literature and society, it becomes apparent that nature is a cold, brutal, and unforgiving place. The comfort that comes from believing each individual holds a special place in life is belittled by the sad truth that the universe is not too concerned with whether or not each person on the planet lives or dies. The trend of naturalism that appears in American literature during the post Civil War era capitalizes on this way of thought, and brings out themes of the cruelty of the world in a matter-of-a-fact way. Ultimately, Jack London’s To Build a Fire is a stark but realistic presentation of man and the natural world that displays the characteristics of naturalist writing. …show more content…

In To Build a Fire, London paints a landscape of coldness and hardship, where man must use extreme caution or be killed by the elements. Despite these brutal conditions, one simple phrase is continually repeated: “It is very cold.” This use of a casual statement when referring to a life threatening condition is an obvious characteristic of naturalist style. Furthermore, the narrator progresses through the narrative with a relative indifference in relation to the events that befall the man in the story. As the man dies freezing, it is described in the text as simply “drowsing off into what seemed to him the most comfortable and satisfying sleep he had ever known.” London obviously placed a great focus on being realistic with matters concerning man’s relationship with the

Get Access