What is The Theme of to Build a Fire?

In “to Build a Fire,” Jack London explores the dangers of traveling alone in the wilderness. Developments are set in the Yukon during the winter, where temperatures can drop to -75 degrees Fahrenheit. The protagonist, a nameless man, is traveling alone to meet up with his friends at a mining camp. He is inexperienced in the cold and does not take proper precautions, such as building a fire and keeping himself dry. As a result, he gets frostbite and eventually dies.
“To Build a Fire” highlights the importance of taking proper precautions when traveling in dangerous conditions. It also highlights the importance of companionship and human connection. The story is based on a true event that happened to London himself: while working as an oyster pirate on San Francisco Bay one day in 1896, he was stranded on his boat for three days before being rescued by another boatman (London).
The book was first published in 1902 and has since been adapted into several film and television productions, including an Academy Award-winning short film by Yasujirō Ozu (1957). The story has been adapted for television twice: once by Akira Kurosawa (1961) and once by Wim Wenders (1991).