Jack London Love of Life - Admission/Application Essay Example

Response to “Love of Life” The short story “Love of Life,” by Jack London, is an excellent story that takes the reader on a journey of the reality ofhuman psyche, and the motivation behind the human behavior. Through the story of a man who gets separated from his fellow traveler and gets lost in a forest, the author has explored the untamed and hidden aspects of human mind and behavior. The story succeeds in making the reader think deeply about the ‘real’ nature of human being. It makes the reader wonder if human beings are really as civilized as they think they are, or is there a possibility of them becoming like animals if the circumstances change.

The story, in fact, makes the reader to take a second look at human motivation, and his own behavior pattern.The story exposes the deeper aspects of human psyche in an interesting way. Through the main character of the story, the author introduces the wild and the uncivilized aspects of human being. The reader realizes that survival in the world lies at the root of every action that human being takes. It is the survival instinct that drives the human behavior. Initially, the main character is shown missing his friend named Bill, and thinking that he will not be able to carry on without him.

Later, as he tries to survive in the forest, he not only forgets his friend, but also loses the desire to achieve the goal for which he had taken up the journey in the first place. In fact, later he is shown feeling happy and victorious when he encounters the bones and flesh of human being and thinking that it might be his friend’s. This makes the reader feel that nothing is permanent in this world. Human being is extremely selfish and can take other human being’s life if it is necessary for his own survival.

The story makes the reader feel that compared to his own survival, nothing is important in this world for a human being. The other interesting aspect that has been explored in the story is the tendency of paranoia. The main character’s act of counting the matchsticks again and again exposes the weakness of human mind. He is also shown looking for the bullets in his rifle even though he knows that there are none. Human being can function well and in healthy way only when he is certain about his life.

The story is a revelation of the fact that insecurity and uncertainty can drive a person into madness. When nature seems to be against him, then man stops trusting even his own judgments and skills. This also makes the reader to reflect on human motivation in civilized world. The story makes the reader realize that as uncertainty makes a man feel insecure and unstable in his mind, he always strives for security and safety. Hence, it is not surprising that very few people in this world are ready to take risks in their lives.

Usually, people like security in their job, relationship, social conditions etc. The story helps the reader to get a deep insight into the human behavior through the behavior of the character. Moreover, in an interesting way, the short story “Love of Life,” also explores the different fears that influence the human behavior. For example, when the main character in the story is saved, he is shown developing a habit of stacking biscuits in his room with the fear of starvation. His baseless fear that all the food on the ship will finish and he will die of starvation makes him to stuff his room with food.

This aspect of the story throws a light on the human trait of greed and fear. After reading the story, one cannot help but think that maybe the root of obesity in human beings is the result of the fear. Maybe, the fear of starving makes them to accumulate food in their body. The story introduces the reader to the animal instincts in human beings. As it progresses, the story peels off the layers of ‘civilized’ human being one by one, and exposes the layers of animal nature that are hidden inside him.

In a sense, the story makes the reader to look deep inside his own self and think again about his own desires, dreams, career goals etc. It makes him to think whether they are really intense desires or just another way of finding a certainty and security in life. The story makes one think “Will I continue doing what I am doing if it makes me lose the security and certainty in life?” Most probably, the answer will be “No.” The story really makes reader realize how much he loves his own life and to what extent he can go to survive.

Hence, it will not be wrong to say that the short story “Love for life” shatters the belief of human being that he is different from animals, and makes him to understand that deep inside, he is an animal.