Naturalism In Jack London's To Build A Fire
Steven Curry
English 220
Dr. Freeze
21 February 2014
Naturalism in To Build a Fire
Jack London’s To Build a Fire, clearly shows examples of and depicts the elements of a naturalist text. Throughout the entire story, there are aspects about it that classify it as naturalism rather than the idea of “new” realism. The unique storyline contains two common examples that appear in naturalist writings. The conflicts between man and nature and man against himself, plus the character of the dog make To Build a Fire into a naturalist text.
First, the conflict between man and nature shown in naturalist texts plays a huge part in the main story of To Build a Fire. The unnamed character battles nature throughout the entire story and nature holds no favor for the man and its authoritative power over the man. London presents the idea that death happens in nature and man cannot do a thing to stop it. …show more content…
Before his long journey through the tundra, the man seeks advice from a wise old man who knows about the entire area and how to survive the harsh weather conditions. The old timer tells the man he should not travel alone with the temperature being dangerously cold. London tells of the man reminiscing about what the old-timer told him, “The old-timer had been very serious in laying down the law that no man must travel alone in the Klondike after fifty below. Well, here he was; he had had the accident; he was alone; and he had saved himself” (London 6). Instead of listening to the old timer, the man decides to go off on his own, ultimately leading to his demise. This definitely shows the naturalistic idea of man versus man, or himself. The man’s own stubbornness and disregard to the advice of the old man causes his death. If he had listened to the old man, he most likely would have survived because there would have been another person with him to help start a fire in order for him to dry
English 220
Dr. Freeze
21 February 2014
Naturalism in To Build a Fire
Jack London’s To Build a Fire, clearly shows examples of and depicts the elements of a naturalist text. Throughout the entire story, there are aspects about it that classify it as naturalism rather than the idea of “new” realism. The unique storyline contains two common examples that appear in naturalist writings. The conflicts between man and nature and man against himself, plus the character of the dog make To Build a Fire into a naturalist text.
First, the conflict between man and nature shown in naturalist texts plays a huge part in the main story of To Build a Fire. The unnamed character battles nature throughout the entire story and nature holds no favor for the man and its authoritative power over the man. London presents the idea that death happens in nature and man cannot do a thing to stop it. …show more content…
Before his long journey through the tundra, the man seeks advice from a wise old man who knows about the entire area and how to survive the harsh weather conditions. The old timer tells the man he should not travel alone with the temperature being dangerously cold. London tells of the man reminiscing about what the old-timer told him, “The old-timer had been very serious in laying down the law that no man must travel alone in the Klondike after fifty below. Well, here he was; he had had the accident; he was alone; and he had saved himself” (London 6). Instead of listening to the old timer, the man decides to go off on his own, ultimately leading to his demise. This definitely shows the naturalistic idea of man versus man, or himself. The man’s own stubbornness and disregard to the advice of the old man causes his death. If he had listened to the old man, he most likely would have survived because there would have been another person with him to help start a fire in order for him to dry