Naturalism is a literary technique that refers to the depiction of natural events in narrative form. The tale follows a guy’s fight against nature in the Yukon Territory and his ultimate demise. London employs realistic description and unflinching realism to depict the harsh realities of life in the wild, as well as humans’ attempts to survive there.
The story begins with the man trudging through the snow, finally stopping to rest when he finds a tree to sit under. He is already feeling the effects of the cold, and knows that he needs to build a fire soon. However, he is not prepared and does not have enough wood or matches. He eventually builds a fire, but it is not enough to keep him warm. The man succumbs to the cold and dies, alone in the wilderness.
London’s portrayal of the natural world is unflinching in its realism. The man is constantly battling against the elements, and ultimately loses. This highlights the power of nature, and the insignificance of humans in relation to it. The story also serves as a warning against underestimating the dangers of the natural world.
While “To Build a Fire” is Jack London’s most famous work of naturalism, he also wrote other stories and novels with similar themes. “The Call of the Wild” is another well-known tale that depicts the harshness of nature, and the struggles of humans to survive in it. Like “To Build a Fire”, “The Call of the Wild” is a story of survival against all odds, ultimately culminating in the triumph of nature over man.
Jack London was a prolific writer of naturalistic fiction, and his work continues to be popular even today. His stories provide a brutal, honest look at the natural world and the humans who try to survive in it.
In To Build a Fire, Jack London uses naturalist themes and motifs in his writing. The tale has elements that place it in the camp of naturalism rather than “new” realism throughout. The distinctive plot features twin frequent examples found in naturalist works. To Build a Fire is a naturalist work because to its themes of man vs nature, as well as man vs himself.
The story begins with the main character, referred to as “the man”, walking through the woods in the Yukon territory by himself. He is trying to get to a mining camp where his friends are located before sundown. The problem is that it is fifty below zero and if he does not make it there before dark, he will most likely die due to the extreme cold weather. The man knows this and thinks about it throughout his journey. This internal conflict is an example of man against himself, which is a common element in naturalist texts.
The second conflict present in To Build a Fire is between man and nature. The entire story takes place in the freezing cold Yukon and the man is constantly battling the cold weather. He even says at one point, “Nature was against him” (London 1). This struggle is a perfect example of the man vs. nature conflict that is often seen in naturalist texts.
The final element that Jack London uses to make To Build a Fire a naturalist text is the character of the dog. The dog is with the man for most of the story and is a key part in the plot. The dog does not understand what the man is doing or why he needs to get to the camp before sundown. All it knows is that it wants to be with the man and go where he goes. This innocence and ignorance makes the dog a naturalist character.
Overall, Jack London’s To Build a Fire is a perfect example of a naturalist text. It contains the common themes and elements that are often seen in this genre of writing. The story is unique and interesting, while also providing readers with a realistic view of the world around them.
The conflict between man and nature portrayed in naturalist works plays a crucial role in the overall plot of To Build a Fire. Throughout the tale, an unnamed character battles nature, with nature having no sympathies for or power over the human. London implies that death occurs naturally, with man unable to do anything about it.
Second, Jack London shows the idea that all creatures big and small, in one way or another, are equal. The main character, even with his intelligence as a human, is no match for the simple yet effective nature around him. With these two ideas of naturalism in mind, Jack London’s To Build a Fire becomes a story not just about man’s fight against nature but also about how unfair and ultimately futile that battle can be.
The story of To Build a Fire by Jack London is rife with examples of naturalism. Perhaps the most prevalent example of naturalism in the story is the conflict between man and nature. From the beginning, it is clear that the unnamed protagonist is not favored by nature. The conditions are unfavorable and there is a constant threat of danger.
The protagonist is constantly battling nature, and nature always seems to come out on top. This is best exemplified when the protagonist tries to build a fire. Despite all of his intelligence and efforts, he is ultimately unsuccessful and nature triumphs over him. This example shows how London presents the idea that death happens in nature and man cannot do a thing to stop it.
Another example of naturalism in To Build a Fire is Jack London’s presentation of the idea that all creatures big and small, in one way or another, are equal. This is best shown through the interactions between the protagonist and the other animals in the story.
The protagonist looks down on the wolves, yet they are the ones who ultimately save him from freezing to death. The protagonist also underestimates the simple yet effective power of nature. This is best shown when the protagonist tries to build a fire and fails. With these two examples of naturalism in mind, Jack London’s To Build a Fire becomes a story not just about man’s fight against nature but also about how unfair and ultimately futile that battle can be.
In conclusion, Jack London’s To Build a Fire is a story that is rich with examples of naturalism. The conflict between man and nature is a central theme in the story, and it is clear that London believed that man was not favored by nature. He also believed that all creatures big and small were equal, and that the simple yet effective power of nature should not be underestimated.
