Perseverance in the Klondike

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Recommended: After twenty years of literary analysis

“To Build a Fire” written by Jack London, was published in 1902 and then re-published again in 1908, which is the most recognized. London sailed to join the Klondike Gold Rush in July of 1897, his time there influenced many of his works. The main character of the story is an unnamed man, a newcomer to the Yukon, who is going to meet his friends at an old claim. His companion is a big husky wolf dog, whose instincts tell him that it is too cold to venture out , but he relentlessly follows the food and fire provider. All of the elements are against the man, but he continues to push forward even when he loses feelings in his hands and legs. The man finally comes to the realization that he is going to die; he lies down in the snow and falls into a comfortable sleep. The dog stays with the man for a while confused and wondering why he is laying in the snow, he curiously walks up to the man and sniffs; the smell of death fills his nostrils. The dog leaves the man and searches for the other food and fire providers. In London’s “To Build a Fire”, he displays the perseverance that the man undergoes in various stages as he faces his imminent death. When the man starts this journey he is unaware of the fate that Mother Nature has in store for him. The weather is seventy five below zero, his beard is frozen and caked in amber icicles from spitting his dip out. The longer the man walks his cheeks start to get frost bit and he rubs them to attempt to keep the feeling, he continues to push forward brushing the problem off not thinking anything about it.” Bit painful, that was all; they were never serious.” (3). Sublime to the slow effects the weather is having on him, he stops around noon for a lunch break. Instead of immediately building a f... ... middle of paper ... ... mumbled to the old-timer of Sulphur Creek.” (11). He then drifts off into what seemed to be the best sleep of his life and the dog stays for a bit only to eventually leave and find the other “food-providers and fire-providers”. (11) The perseverance displayed by the man in Jack London’s short story “To Build a Fire”, is a true testament of the human spirit. Even when all of his surroundings are obviously against him, he continues to push forward and try to survive. When all of his hope was gone, he continued to remain calm and somewhat clear headed. London’s experiences while living in the Klondike helped him capture the essence of the wilderness, and put it in grave detail to influence the outcome and fate of his characters lives. Works Cited London, Jack . "To Build a Fire." The Century Magazine Aug. 1908: n. pag. The world of Jack London. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.

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