In Jack London's "To Build a Fire," the common theme seems to be survival of the fittest. "According to Charles Child Walcutt, Jack London was greatly influenced by the ideas of such men as Charles Darwin..." (Robbins) This theme goes hand in hand with the ever-popular Darwin and his theory of evolution and natural selection. In "To Build a Fire", the conflict is man versus nature and the strongest will prevail thus proving the strongest survive. In the theory of natural selection the party (whether be man or animal) that survives is the one that overcomes the hardships of the conflict and adapts to the environment around them thus making them the stronger species. In the case of "To Build a Fire," the three elements Tom Vincent must overcome are the bitter cold of the Klondike, his lack of companionship, and his inexperience with the trail he travels.
             First and foremost, "It was on a bleak January day..." (London) when Tom decides to venture into the bitter cold of the Klondike. "The frost was sixty degrees below zero..." (London) and he had "thirty miles of lonely trail to cover..." (London) but Tom refused to have "respect for the frost..." (London) and decided to go out anyways against the advice of others. Everyone said he should not be traveling in this type of weather because many times death comes with the elements. Tom, "...with faith in himself and in the strength of his head
             and his hands..." (London) decided that he could and would overcome the elements. He seemed to have the attitude of superhuman that he was invincible to the cold and untouchable. Tom knew he had to be strong to survive the cold but had no fear of the consequences he would suffer. "Nevertheless he was aware of a thrill of joy, of exultation. He was doing something, achieving something, mastering the elements. Once he laughed aloud...