The Law of Life and To Build a Fire are two short stories that are similar in their exploration of naturalism. Naturalism is a literary movement that seeks to portray the natural world and human experience objectively without moral judgment. Both stories present a harsh and indifferent natural world that is harsh and unforgiving to humans. This essay compares and contrasts these two short stories and shows how they both demonstrate naturalism.
Jack London's The Law of Life tells the story of an ancient Native American named Koskoosh who was forced to die by his tribe. Set in the rugged and unforgiving landscape of the Yukon, this story is a sobering look at nature. The story is full of naturalistic themes such as survival of the fittest and nature's indifference to human life. For example, cold and snow are presented as almost life forms with their own will and action. London writes: "The cosmic chill hits the earth's exposure point, and those who are at that exposure point take the full force of the blow." This phrase is a core tenet of naturalism. It shows the severity and indifference of nature.
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The story follows a man traveling alone through the Yukon trying to reach his camp before dark. The story features the main characters fighting the elements as they try to survive the harsh Yukon winter. The story is full of naturalistic themes such as the struggle for survival and nature's indifference to human life. For example, the hero's survival depends on his ability to make fire, which is essential for heating and cooking. However, due to the dampness of the trees and the extreme cold, his attempts were unsuccessful. The story ends with the hero succumbing to the elements, demonstrating the harshness of nature and indifference to human