I remember reading Jack London’s “To Build a Fire” years ago. So when I saw that I needed to read it again, I thought “Ooo! I know what this is about!” Then I realized that it was negative twelve in my basement (ok, not really, but it sure felt like it) and that it was snowing again. How fitting.
As Moira stated, “To Build a Fire” really is “man vs. nature at it’s finest”. A lone man traveling in insanely cold conditions as nature throws all of its fury on him. Talk about your conflicts. The man was far too proud to bring a companion, other than the ever-symbolic dog, and nature was chastising him for it and almost laughing at him for trying. Would he not have run into such trouble had he traveled with another human? Probably not. Since nature is such an unpredictable and unstoppable force, it was almost foolish of the man to try to beat it alone. It is one of the things that make the man vs. nature conflicts so interesting- nature cannot be tamed by anyone. Other conflicts can be resolved (kill someone in man vs. man for example) but you can’t shoot nature.
Now onto the dog. As I mentioned on Valerie’s blog, I think the dog represents the logical side of the man, the side he obviously did not listen to. Dogs instinctively know that a journey of those proportions could not be made alone. Perhaps the man should have listened to his instincts as well instead of letting pride get to the better of him, as it was ultimately his downfall.
Bitter cold, traveling alone, no fire- spells disaster to me. Even in the beginning of the story I knew that no good could come of the man’s journey. That desolate setting and weather just screams death. If it was a nice sunny afternoon, I may have thought differently. Yet wintry weather seldom brings happiness.
So, Vanessa, what do you think would have happened if the protagonist in the story were a woman? (I was wondering this in my entry) ;c)
Posted by: moira at January 30, 2005 05:28 PMHmmm... maybe I should've picked a "death in the desert" story instead. There would be plenty of cheerful sunshine for you! ;)
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at January 30, 2005 10:51 PMIf the protagonist were a woman, she probably would have brought along her gaggle... I mean, gang of girlfriends, and the isolation problem would never have happened. :P ::Coughs:: They almost always travel in flocks.
Oh, and Vanessa, the point you made about man vs. nature conflicts being much more difficult to solve than man vs. man conflicts really made me think. Great observation. :)
Posted by: ChrisU at January 31, 2005 03:52 AMIf the protagonist was a woman, she wouldn't have gone out in the cold in the first place! -75 does not say fun to me. Also, a woman would have had enough sense to bring along another person- or two (although I wouldn't quite say "gaggle" Chris). Plus, the fire sitation would have never happened. Not only would a woman have brought matches but also backup matches, a lighter, and a backup lighter. We always have everything in our purses.
Posted by: Nessa at January 31, 2005 08:05 AMDr. Jerz- there certainly would have been more sunshine! It would have taken my mind off the snow, if nothing else.
Posted by: Vanessa at January 31, 2005 08:06 AMIf the story were put into a modern setting, a female protagonist would probably be carrying a cell-phone, too, making it even easier to get out alive.
Posted by: ChrisU at January 31, 2005 09:52 AMYou know Chris, I thought about the cell phone thing too. But I doubt there would be reception where the man was. I mean, I can't even get reception in my friend's basement so I don't know about a vast snow land.
Posted by: Nessa at January 31, 2005 01:38 PM