To Build A Fire by Jack London Literary Analysis

Encouraged by humankind’s accomplishments, people become innately confident in their ability to explore the impossible. They live under the presumption that their rational thought and judgment can conquer the inevitable. Nature, however, doesn’t bend to human wants or curiosities. It does not condone or support one’s actions. Therefore, attempting to defy it to one’s benefit is useless. In the short story  “To Build A Fire,” Jack London explores humanity’s futility in defying limits through the protagonist’s failure in the freezing weather. In showing Man’s eventual demise amid his overconfidence in his survival skills, London illustrates that no amount of judgment and grit can enable one to transcend the natural limits of the world. 

Unlike the Man, who is encouraged by rational thinking to pursue the impossible, the dog is incapable of judgment or thought, thus it relies on its instincts to survive the intolerable temperatures. The Man, physically fit as he may be, does not possess immortal qualities that permit him to travel through the inhabitable weather. But, he is so engrossed in his knowledge that the resulting arrogance prevents him from trusting his brute instincts for survival. The dog lacks a rational mind and can understand that “it was no time for traveling. Its instinct told it a truer tale than was told… by the man’s judgment.” The dog is entirely driven by its will to survive, so as the Man pushes to continue, the dog wishes to stop. Although the Man dominates hierarchically, the dog’s instincts are valuable in cold weather. His inability to comprehend that truth, coupled with the arrogance of his past successes, hinders him from considering the consequences. This is further emphasized as the “dog sat and watched him [build the fire]... for it looked upon him as the fire provider.” Given the lack of connection between the pair, the dog does not feel the need to stay loyal to the man. It “was for its own sake.” Despite Man’s foolish ignorance, the dog stays with him as a means of survival. It survives by following its instincts and understanding its limits, instead of experimenting with its life. As the pair progressed through the cold, they wet their feet and legs, and the dog instinctively “dropped down in the snow… to bite out the ice.. between the toes.” The dog does not possess the capabilities to understand the precise consequences of frozen feet, rather, it acted on an instinctual reflex. In contrast, The Man’s rational reasoning leads him to believe that he can protect himself using fire. He does not see beyond appearance; he feels the cold, but he does not think about its consequences on his life. Having evolved and grown away from the innate survival instinct, the Man now sees the world scientifically rather than instinctually, which serves detrimental. 

The Man, overconfident in his supposed superiority, considered all his failures as nothing more than setbacks, not as signs that he cannot transcend nature. However, the natural world is indifferent to human authority, so he is forced to accept reality. When the old-timer, who is well experienced in the cold, advised him, he considered him to be “rather womanish.” Instead, the Man believed that “all a man had to do was keep his head, and he was all right.” He values his need to maintain the dominant male image more than his life, for he forwent life-saving advice. His arrogance at having once successfully built a fire boosts his pride and makes him view his survival as commendable. Unlike the old-timer, the protagonist does not see the world from an instinctual point of view and believes that his resources will save him. Yet, as he progressed into the Yukon, he understood that “the old-timer on Sulphur Creek was right. If he had only had a trail-mate, he would have been in no danger now.” As his chances of surviving diminish, he is forced to accept the possibility of death. He comes to realize his limits, however, but it is too late to heed his warnings. Now he must do whatever is necessary to survive. With all attempts proving futile, the Man saw it as “a good idea… to sleep off to death.” At last, the Man comes to understand that nature cannot be defeated by knowledge; his prolonged arrogance cost him his life. Ultimately, the fear of death consumes him, and he decides death is all that is left. He describes sleep as “the most comfortable sleep he had ever known.” However, his blissful sleep ends in an indifferent death. The Man’s false sense of superiority and confidence serves no purpose, as they cannot overcome nature. 

With Man’s death, London conveys the notion that the world is indifferent towards human accomplishments. Nature has no regard for humankind’s achievements or status. Thus, belief in one’s capabilities does not influence their outcome. Trying to overcome limitations ultimately fails because people overestimate their abilities. London warns readers that the world is far more unforgiving than they can imagine when pushed to the limits, and any attempts to defy it are futile.