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Literal analysis of “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
The narrative by Jack London narrates about a man who encounters various obstacles as he faces a harsh winter in the forest. In the text, the man fails to critically analyze his situation and make choices that would help him survive in the woods. Besides, he fails to listen to an old-timer who warns him about traveling alone in Klondike (London). His decision to ignore the advice of the old-timer makes his conditions difficult in the forest eventually cost him his life. The author uses his work to persuade his audience that they must think creatively and apply their imagination to solve problems. For instance, the narrator notes in the text that the man encountered issues because “he was without imagination” (London). Jack London uses the theme of man versus nature, the setting and the characters in the narrative to illustrate how human beings fail to use their imagination and think beyond the surface of life to survive in the universe.
The first crucial literary element used by the author to illustrate the inability of humankind to use their imagination is the setting of the story. After reading the story, one realizes that the story was set in Yukon, Canada. During winter Yukon Canada experiences shallow temperatures that make living conditions difficult. In the story, the man brings a dog to his journey but fails to notice that the dog followed him reluctantly due to the cold outside (London). Also, London depicted the main character stepping into the ice trap to link the story with the setting. In this instance, if an emergency occurred in the forest, nobody would notice and assist the main character. The context of Jack ‘London’s story is critical in the plot because it illustrates the inability of the man to deal with severe conditions. Also, unlike the man’s inability to use his imagination and instincts to survive, the dog used its abilities to overcome the harsh climatic conditions. In essence, the unnamed man in the narrative died while the dog survived because it used its skills and power of imagination.
Next, the central theme used by the narrator to illustrate how people fail to use their imagination is man versus nature. The story begins with the unnamed man who goes into the forest with only his native dog, thinking he will survive through the harsh winter (London). However, his lack of trust in his instincts and the use of imagination in making critical decisions made nature take his life. The theme of man versus nature is illustrated through the use of an upward shift and a downward shift. For example, the unnamed man manages to light up a fire, which is later “put off by falling snow” (London). In this case, attempts made by the man to change the conditions set by nature are defeated by the power of life. The reason for his failure is primarily due to his inability to think outside the box. Instead of lighting a fire under the trees, he should have used his imagination and placed the fire in an open space. Therefore, human beings can solve difficult situations if they think critically about their conditions. If the man in the narrative had first analyzed the consequences of lighting a fire under a tree, he would have kept himself warm and survive through winter. However, just like most people, his lack of imagination and inaction made nature win.
Lastly, the main characters used in the narrative by the author are the old-timer, the unnamed man, and the dog. London uses the man as the protagonist who drives the story through his suffering in the harsh conditions in the cold. He is depicted as a person who only trusted himself and lacked imagination that could keep him alive in winter. Also, his character in the story, such as forcing the dog to walk in front of him to be kept safe, illustrates him as a proud person and who only trusted his mind (London). However, if he used his imagination, he could have believed the instincts of the dog and remained in the house. His distrust of those around him is also illustrated by his decision to disregard the old ‘timer’s advice. The man is the original character who the author uses to develop the theme of the story. Besides, the narrator spends a lot of time describing his habits to ensure the audience understands him well.
Ultimately, London uses the theme of man versus nature, the setting and the characters in the narrative to illustrate how human beings fail to use their imagination and think beyond the surface of life to survive in the universe. The first crucial literary element used by the author to illustrate the inability of humankind to use their imagination is the setting of the story. After reading the story, one realizes that the story was set in Yukon, Canada. The context of Jack London’sLondon’s story is critical in the plot because it illustrates the inability of the man to deal with severe conditions. Next, the central theme used by the narrator to demonstrate how people fail to use their imagination is man versus nature. For instance, if the man in the narrative had first analyzed the consequences of lighting a fire under a tree, he would have kept himself warm and survive through winter. The author, therefore, uses the elements of literature to connect and pass his message to the audience effectively.
Works cited
London, Jack. To build a fire. Bantam Classics, 2007.