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Setting In Jack London's To Build A Fire

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The Impact of setting in “To Build a Fire” Nature often tests man’s limits. Sometimes man can overcome these tests and win; however, there are times when man just simply fails.In Jack London’s “To build a Fire,” a man faces trials which tests his limits. Unfortunately, through arrogance and a lack of purpose, the man ends up facing nature and struggles to survive. In “To Build a Fire” the setting affects the characters , plot, and symbolism. One of the first ways that the setting has an impact on the characters is because, In the story the man came completely unprepared to the Klondike. Instead of bringing a decent amount of clothes and other essential things to survive in the harsh winter times, he brings a measly dog and a laughable amount …show more content…

“It was his own fault or, rather, his mistake. He should not have built the fire under the spruce tree.”(Pg6) The own mans ignorance led him to this fault. “High up in the tree one bough capsized its load of snow. This fell on the boughs beneath, capsizing them.”(Pg6) He kept pulling thing knowingly that the tree was getting weaker and weaker but he persisted.The Final piece of evidence that the setting affects the plot is that the setting affect …show more content…

To permit the ice to remain would mean sore feet. It did not know this. It merely obeyed the mysterious prompting that arose from the deep crypts of its being.”(Pg4) The second way the setting affects the symbolism in the story is the fire.In the story “To Build a Fire” the fire that the man builds symbolizes life because without it the man would die very quickly.The fire produces heat which is essential to life in these harsh environments.Without the weather that the man faced in the story there would not be any need for a fire in the first place.If the temperature had been warmer there would be no snow or ice for the man to get stuck in.All of this prevent the fire from needing an actual place in the story. However the temperature is extremely cold so the fire is needed.”Working carefully from a small beginning, he soon had a roaring fire, over which he thawed the ice from his face and in the protection of which he ate his biscuits.”(pg4) The last piece

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