Naturalist writers examine the idea that free will holds no importance, humans are on par with animals, and nature can be both hostile and indifferent. These themes are apparent in Jack London’s narrative, “To Build a Fire,” which emphasizes nature’s antagonistic demeanor. Despite the protagonist’s foolish choices, nature did not provide any assistance throughout his journey. As a result, the man came to understand that nature was not supportive of him.
“To Build a Fire” tells the tale of a man embarking on a perilous hiking trip to meet his friends at a camp. The weather conditions were treacherous, with temperatures dropping as low as fifty degrees below zero, thick layers of ice spanning three feet, and snow covering the ice. Additionally, the sun never fully rose, and hidden springs lurked beneath the snowy terrain. Along his journey, the man encounters a dog who becomes his companion throughout. While their bond is not particularly strong, the dog remains faithful to the man and seeks warmth from him by enjoying fires he creates. Despite the man’s utmost efforts to survive, they prove futile as he eventually succumbs to nature’s forces.
The man had multiple choices that potentially could have altered his situation. One particular choice was his refusal to listen to the advice given to him about traveling. The old timer from Sulphur Creek had cautioned him about the extreme cold in the area, but the traveler laughed off the warning at the time (821). Additionally, he disregarded the advice against traveling alone, justifying it by asserting that a true man could make the journey by himself (822-823). Being a newcomer to the land, or chechaquo, and facing his first winter (817), he lacked knowledge of the environment and was unaware of the perils associated with traversing the Yukon trail. Another critical decision he made was deviating from the main trail and selecting a separate path, which could have resulted in his demise. He lacked imagination, being prompt and perceptive in daily matters but disregarding their implications (817-818). He neglected to utilize his creativity and foresight to anticipate potential hazards. Instead, he believed himself above nature.
The man’s adventure was hindered by the harsh environment. Despite his precautions, nature seemed to conspire against him. For instance, he meticulously walked over frozen springs and made the dog go first to avoid falling through, but he still ended up wetting himself halfway to the knees. Undeterred, he carefully constructed a fire, only for a bough on a nearby spruce tree to collapse, extinguishing his hard-earned flames. This setback was his own fault – he should have built the fire in the open instead of under the tree (823). After this failure, it felt as if he had received a death sentence (823). Despite relentless attempts to rebuild the fire, nature refused to let him succeed. Exhausted from his prolonged struggle for survival, the man eventually gave up and fell asleep sitting on the snow – a sleep from which he would never awaken.
Throughout the initial stages of the man’s journey, he appeared to mock nature, assuming he was more powerful than it. Nonetheless, as he progressed, his demeanor shifted from lightheartedness to gravity. He swiftly comprehended that the harshness of the surroundings warranted no amusement. It became evident to him that it surpassed merely enduring frostbitten extremities or losing limbs – it became an existential struggle where odds were stacked against him (826).
