"To Build A Fire"-Jack London

"To Build A Fire" by Jack London is the story of a man that goes into the woods with his dog out in the Yukon at an attempt to search for gold.  This might have been a bad idea considering they had later encountered some very unreasonable weather conditions and were essentially forcing themselves to get through it and move along(London 602). Most of this story has a lot to do with the fighting battle between the main charcter and nature. This story pretty much focuses on nature entirely, so therefore, it would be considered a branch off of Realism called Naturalism(Werlock 1). I think This relates to Emerson because of his determined mind.  Emerson was known as a determined man and fighting for what he thought was right, regardless of how stupid and idiotic that may sound. This is still considered realism because of its use of simple language.

"He held on through the level stretch of woods for several miles, crossed a wide flat of niggerheads, and dropped down a bank to the frozen bed of a small stream. This was Henderson Creek, and he knew he was ten miles from the forks. He looked at his watch. It was ten o'clock. He was making four miles an hour, and he calculated that he would arrive at the forks at half-past twelve. He decided to celebrate that event by eating his lunch there."(London 607) 

As seen in the quotation above, the language is very simple and is very understandable which is an example of Realism(Werlock 2).  The quotation's use of showing the nature vs. character conflict reveals how this story relates to Naturalism(Werlock 1).  "To Build a Fire" relates to the philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson.  Emerson believed in self reliance.  Self reliance is sort of like doing good for yourself before you do good for other's(Emerson). In an odd way this relates because the main charcter, despite his lack of sane intelligence by going out in ridiculous conditions, in a way he is doing it for himself.  He is doing what he thinks he needs to do, find gold, and essentially end up will an experience that will forever shape his life, no matter how short it was cut off.

Werlock, Abby H. P. "naturalism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gamshrtsty0501&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 8, 2012).

London, Jack. "To Build a Fire." American Literature. Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm. Columbus: McGraw Hill, 2009. 601-614. Print. (Werlock, "Realism")

Werlock, Abby H. P. "realism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Mar 8, 2012.