Jack London – American writer of a realistic direction. The story To Build a Fire (1908) was written during Jack London’s creative heyday and published in the collection Lost Face. The description of the confrontation between man and nature in the harsh North requires a certain amount of naturalism, but this is not the writer’s goal. For a realist, causal relationships are essential, so he is interested in the hero’s psychology, his actions’ motives, and the internal sources of strength for resistance. The story’s problem is the problem of a person’s physical and psychological endurance. Jack London is amazed that a person, a physically weak being whose life is affected by a drop in temperature by an extra 10 degrees, still risks fighting the solid whiteness of the North. In his To Build a Fire, London incorporates the rhetorical triangle to demonstrate the power of nature over human beings and animals.
London’s short story presents a balanced argument regarding the environment by utilizing ethos. The first element of the rhetoric triangle means “character” and refers to the credibility of the writer that can be established by providing honest and straightforward information (Browning et al. 5). London narrates the hardships of an unnamed man traversing through “the main Yukon trail” near and illustrates his knowledge of the area’s nature by presenting certain facts about the region (London 1). For example, the author describes the exact location of the protagonist’s path and the winter weather (London 1). Notably, the writer shows a fine understanding of the territory because London visited the place when he traveled through Yukon during the Gold Rush (Kim 220). Consequently, To Build a Fire appeals to ethos by accurately representing the environment based on the author’s experiences in the area.
Furthermore, London’s narrative demonstrates how nature can affect people based on pathos. The rhetoric triangle’s second element refers to emotions that the audience is anticipated to have in response to the provided information (Browning et al. 5). For instance, London suggests the “omnipotence of nature,” which human beings cannot avoid or control, by utilizing such phrases as “exceedingly cold and grey” (Schenck 130; London 1). Moreover, the writer proposes that animals also cannot overpower the environment because even the protagonist’s companion, a husky dog, is portrayed as “depressed by the tremendous cold” (London 2). Accordingly, To Build a Fire appeals to pathos by suggesting the sense of disadvantage in the face of nature.
Finally, the short story depicts the environment’s capacity by using logos. The third element of the rhetorical triangle is associated with logic and reason that depend on precise examples (Browning et al. 5). For instance, the narrative is set during winter, and the writer mentions such details as the temperature being “seventy-five below zero” (London 2). Consequently, the author implies that such low degrees are dangerous. For example, London proposes that the dos, which is native to the region, does “not know anything about thermometers” but instinctively comprehends that the environmental conditions require fire and shelter (London 2). Accordingly, the story appeals to logos by presenting specific details and how one should react to nature.
London employs the rhetorical triangle and demonstrates that human beings and animals are weak in front of a harsh. In the struggle, a person dies but dies with dignity, as a strong opponent, and the reason for his death is that he overestimated his human capabilities. The confrontation between man and nature throughout the story is emphasized by small details that show the intensification of this confrontation. Using various rhetorical means, Jack London skillfully immerses readers in the plot, brings deep meaning to the narrative. The author achieves the completeness of the work and points out the weaknesses of a rational person in front of nature.
Works Cited
Browning, Elizabeth, et al. Critical Reading, Critical Writing: A Handbook to Understanding College Composition. Virginia Western Community College, 2021. Pressbooks.
Kim, Yeonman. “Human Hubris against Nature in Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”.” Modern Studies in English Language and Literature, vol. 66, no. 1, 2022, pp. 219-233.
London, Jack. To Build a Fire. American Literature, 2017.
Schenck, Andrew. “”Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death! Or At Least a Way to Cope?”: Examining Different Perspectives in 18th Century Literature about Slavery.” Studies in British and American Language and Literature, vol. 128, 2018, pp. 129-144.