To build a Fire by Jack London - Essay Example

To build a Fire In ‘To build a Fire’ by Jack London narrates the life of a young man who attempts to cross the Yukon. The author in his narration fails to identify the characters by names rather refers to them as the Man and the Old Man. The journey in this narration is a representation of life and its struggles through which people have to undergo to attain satisfaction. The story is significant given the fact that it portrays how individuals limits themselves and use the available resources to ensure they succeed in life.

The story highlights how life is full of obstacles and failure to adhere to specifics, may lead to failure. The author uses the journey as a metaphor to indicate the struggle the young population undergoes to overcome the era of industrialization and modernization. The author uses the fire to represent the ultimate goal each person has to achieve in life. In this troy the fire is an integral component in the survival of the Man. When the fire ‘dies’, his death is eminent. The author to represent the life teaching and the modern educational system uses the old man.

Where people tend to ignore the essence of wisdom and ignore what life offers them. The future regrets are represented when the Man acknowledges that a third party would have been of help and that he was to blame for his failures to listen to the old man. The author symbolically identifies the necessities of life. People like associating with success the dog is used symbolically to identify a close friend. The failure of the Man to built a fire forces the dog to flee to a camp where it was sure of food and shelter.

The man however is left behind as he is considered as a failure. The author plays an important role in portraying struggles within human spaces. Life itself is a journey and the London uses the young man to express how life can be cruel if people ignore teachings and fail to follow regulations set by different organs. The failed solo journey indicates how unity is a concept of success. The world allows different units to combine to form a unifying power. The author hence chooses a young man to represent strength.

The energetic nature of the man fails to ensure his survival. The author indicates the life journeys as a universal concept. The failures are neither associated with weakness or inability to adapt but are linked to knowledge and ability of individuals to utilize available resources. It is evident that the author’s concept is based on society and how people are placed within this society. The set goals will determine the future. The dog is able to achieve its ultimate goal by running to the camp.

The man on the other hand fails to reach the camp hence risks death. The author to represent the barriers on ones way to success in this case, uses the cold. Achieving these goals will mean working with others to overcome challenges while at the same time applying life teaching. Through this narrative, it is evident that Jack London is “Unacknowledged legislator” by the way he represent social issues and offer solutions and alternative. The young men represent failed strategies while the dog represents determination.