Human Hubris against Nature in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”

Abstract

Jack London (1876-1916) often wrote about nature in the context of literary naturalism, yet it is worth reconsidering his portrayal of the natural environment from an ecocritical perspective. In this endeavor to recontextualize London’s works in relation to ecocriticism, “To Build a Fire” (1902, 1908) may serve as a prominent exemplary text that renders a variety of ecocritical interpretations possible. Set in the frigid boreal landscape of the subarctic region of the Canadian Yukon, the story helps the reader to delve into the notion of human hubris against nature. The protagonist’s arrogance over nature and its constituents leads to a tragic moment in his life. Interestingly, his materialistic and rationalistic attitude toward nature is presented in contrast with the natural instinct of the dog with which he travels and the wisdom of the old man on Sulphur Creek. Also, it is meaningful to examine the two versions of the short story, published six years apart. The two versions reveal a set of intriguing modifications that are worth exploring from an ecocritical angle. (Hanbat National University)