Jack London's short story "To Build a Fire" tells the story of a man who perceives himself as perfect in every way. This stubborn individual decides to travel alone, with his dog, through the dangerous and unwelcoming environment of the Yukon. The man clearly does not recognize the risk he is taking. The bearded man becomes a victim of the merciless and implacable power of nature. During his journey, he falls through the ice into the water of a hot spring. His feet are soaked and due to the severity of the cold, some "one hundred and seven degrees below freezing" (London), the man's life hangs in the balance as he tests his ability to quickly light a fire to prevent his feet from freezing. After several pathetic attempts and a semi-successful attempt at starting a fire, the fate of this man's long struggle against the hostile environment of the Yukon begins to become clear. After a panic episode in which the man desperately tries to restore feeling in his hands and feet by "running around like a chicken with its head cut off" (London), the man eventually reconciles and decides to meet. die with dignity. The bearded man had the preconceived idea that he had everything and that failure was not an option. That said, the man later finds himself reflecting on his previous decision and dies of regret. London uses the protagonist's personality to prove the insufficiency of human calculations and the importance of open-mindedness. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The man was filled with immense pride and self-satisfaction, as most humans are. He was very stubborn and ignored life by trying to tell her otherwise. Before leaving Sulfur Creek, the man was confronted by a very experienced elder who advised him that traveling alone in "fifty degrees below zero" (London) could be an extremely dangerous journey. The bearded man ignored this advice, he took one look at the old man and judged him by his appearance and his age. The man, being younger and in better physical shape, was under the impression that this advice only applied to the elderly and frail. Another sign was that the man's dog, half wolf, began to make instinctive cries. These calls were ignored, this man truly believed he had instincts more natural than a beast. These examples show that having an open mind can broaden one's knowledge to make wise decisions. Human abilities are far from perfect, and knowing your flaws can help you make rash decisions. For example, the protagonist ventures across mostly solid ground and encounters a long plain of ice. He believes walking on the ice was a good idea and has full confidence in the durability of the ice. However, without considering the dangers, the ice cracks and plunges the man into the water, wetting his feet. This prevents him from walking properly. Another example is his knowledge of starting a fire. He managed to light a fire three times to cook and keep warm; but, every time he did it, he accidentally turned it off. Cases like these show that humans are imperfect and miscalculations inhabit their lives. Only those who are able to accept it can reduce the risk of making mistakes. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay London carefully uses the protagonist's character to demonstrate the flaws in humans. The bearded man was, 2019.