To Build A Fire Analysis

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I believe that the man in "To Build a Fire" didn't have the strength to survive the harsh weather of Yukon, Alaska. First of all, the man did not take the time to appreciate the beauty of nature that surrounds him and to look at the positive side of his situation. The man was mostly concerned with the temperature, the snow, and ice. For example, "But all this—this mysterious, far-reaching hairline trail, the absence of sun from the sky, the tremendous cold, and the strangeness and weirdness of it all—made no impression on the man" (page 82). Also, "On the other hand, there was no keen intimacy between the dog and the man" (page 87). The quote shows that the man showed no awe that a dog has been following him. Moreover on the man's feelings towards the dog, it…show more content…
The warmth and security of the animal angered him, and he cursed it till it flattened down its ears appeasingly"(page 94). The man dislikes the fact that the dog doesn't have to go through what he has to. Furthermore, the man didn't show any hope in surviving and realizes that he wouldn't be rescued. He tries his best to survive but is constantly doubting his chances of survival. For instance, "And at the same time there was another thought in his mind that said he would never get to the camp and the boys; that he would soon be stiff and dead. This thought he kept in the background and refused to consider" (page 93). And finally, the man's fear of being stranded and death repeatedly plays in his head. An example " A certain fear of death, dull and oppressive, came to him. This fear quickly became poignant as he realized that it was no longer a mere matter of freezing his fingers and toes, or of losing his hands and feet, but that it was a matter of life and death with the chances against him. This threw him into a panic, and he turned and ran along the old, dim trail" (page
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