Comparison Of Into The Wild And Jack London's To Build A Fire

In the course of human history, man has managed to do some really dumb things. Whether it’s because we lack sufficient knowledge, make a mistake, or are just too stubborn to use sound judgement, dumb decisions are made every day by everyone. However, none have a greater level of stupidity than the choices made by the man in Jack London’s To Build a Fire. This is a story of pride, ignorance, and stupidity, which ultimately leads to the downfall of its main character. This short story is a caution against over confidence and unpreparedness, showing the harsh effects of both. Ultimately, it is an issue of man’s pride versus the harsh conditions of nature. It shows that one cannot simply overlook nature, because doing so can lead to the destruction

In Into the Wild, the main character, Chris, embarks on a journey into the wilderness alone. He travels with minimal amounts of supplies and has no real plan for what he is doing. Like man in London’s story, Chris also received advice from wise and knowledgeable people who advised against traveling alone. They told him to be prepared not take any chances when it came to nature. However, Chris also ignored this advice and proceeded on with his wilderness journey. This produces the same result as in To Build a Fire, death. The interesting connection between these two stories is that Krakauer mentions Jack London as one of Chris’ favorite authors, giving him inspiration. Though this inspiration was most definitively negative because it caused Chris to embark on a disastrous trip into the

London teaches us the harsh effects that nature can have on someone who is unprepared. We see that simple mistakes, like not traveling with a partner, or not bringing enough food, can bring down the whole trip. It shows us that pride can be the ultimate downfall of a man. Pride leads to overconfidence in oneself, which can lead to illogical decisions, which can lead to disaster. As was the case with the man in London’s story, his pride overtook him and led him to make choices that were senseless. We must learn from his actions and don’t think too highly of ourselves, but instead make informed and logical decisions. This includes asking the opinions of others and taking their advice, especially those far wiser and experienced than us. We must heed the warning that London gives us, and strive to live with