Fire and Ice: Choices and Consequences
             "To Build a Fire," by Jack London, is a short story that depicts a man journeying through the Yukon, who due to his inexperience, as well as a lack of respect for the environment, encounters some obstacles that lead to his eventual death. This is a naturalistic story that simply portrays the concept of man versus nature. London's development of the setting throughout the plot is very in-depth and captivating. As one reads, London sucks the reader into the story through his unique writing style. The reader learns along with the protagonist that a cocky attitude can be quickly humbled by the reality that all choices carry certain consequences.
             The narrative starts as a man and his wolf-dog set off in the snowy tundra of the Yukon for an encampment about thirty-five miles away. It is a very cold and gloomy morning. The man is a newcomer to the Yukon, and this is his first winter there. He spits. As the saliva leaves his mouth, it freezes in mid air, an indication that it is colder than fifty degrees below zero. He thinks nothing of it and keeps hiking. As he continues along, he sees a faint sled trail. A foot of snow has fallen and a month has passed since any sled has gone over the trail, but still the man carries on his voyage. He notices that his cheeks and nose are starting to frost and decides that he can handle the pain; it is not too serious. His wolf-dog, a native husky, follows reluctantly.
             London is very precise as he sets up the first part of this story. He describes the setting in such a way that the reader feels that they are there with this man in the tundra of the Yukon in Alaska. During the initial stages of the narration, London uses the literary technique of foreshadowing. The simple fact that the man is a newcomer to the Yukon makes the reader feel that he is much more prone to some tragic event.
             In addition to the character being ine...