To Build a Fire: Theme

A detailed Summary of To Build a Fire: Theme


Most of Jack London's stories are set in the outdoors. By using the outdoors as a backdrop, London offers a unique perspective to the story's themes and different character types. In "To Build a Fire," I believe that London uses the theme and character of a rugged, independent outdoorsman to show that, even though we may want to travel alone in the outdoors, we should always travel with friends or stay within our limits. He uses his knowledge of nature to set a wilderness backdrop that fits well into any story that he writes.

The plot in this story is one of a man trying to conquer the last frontier. I believe that London, through this plot, shows how one needs to keep in mind that, no matter how much we think that we control something, we are still at nature's mercy. Nature's scorn is shown when the central character, after passing through the most dangerous areas of "ice springs," thinks that he is home free. Then he steps into a puddle of shallow water that goes up to his knees. But just when the man thinks that he is home free again and his fire is started and will soon be drying him, it is put out by snow on the very tree that has given him the branches to create


his fire. London also shows how we should respect our elders by the knowledge the old man from Sulphur Creek possesses. The old man had warned the younger one about trailing in the backcountry in such harsh weather. The young man shrugged off the warnings and went out anyway. I believe that London is trying to show us how we need to listen to our elders and not to what our young minds tell us to do. The elders have been there and know what will work. An example of this is when engineering students first begin work. They design projects that work well on paper however, by the time that these projects reach the foreman on the job site, the sites are often immediately sent back to be reworked. The man in charge of construction on the site knows designs that will work and ones that will not by experience. The fresh young college graduate knows only what works on paper, unless he has spent some time in the field earlier in college or in his life.

London uses the man as a symbolic character. The man symbolizes certain people who believe that they can survive on their own. London uses this to show that, even if someone tries to make it on their own, that the unlikely often h

Some common words found in the essay are:
Sulphur Creek, Build Fire, Boy Scout, Boy Scouting, Jack London's, believe london, london theme, believe london theme, traveling friend, home free,

Approximate Word count = 793
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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