Final answer:
To Build a Fire by Jack London is a tale of the human struggle against nature and the naturalism theme, emphasizing the limits of human power in the face of nature's indifference. London likely wrote it to explore these themes and question human overconfidence in dealing with nature. The story urges readers to reflect on humanity's role in the greater order of the universe.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jack London's To Build a Fire is a powerful example of literary naturalism that emphasizes the theme of struggle, particularly, the struggle of a man against the harshness of nature. London, influenced by the philosophical concepts of thinkers such as Marx, Darwin, and Nietzsche, infuses his narrative with the idea that human beings are subject to the same forces of nature and survival that drive the animal world. The story conveys the message that humans may be out of place in nature's vast indifference, suggested through the protagonist's failure to survive. The man's lack of preparedness and understanding of the environment emphasizes the theme of human frailty and nature's unforgiving reality.
London likely wrote To Build a Fire to explore the limits of human strength and intelligence in the face of nature's overwhelming power. The imagery of the cold Yukon and the disconnectedness of the protagonist from the natural world highlight the importance of humility and respect for nature. Through the use of setting, plot, and character, London questions human dominance and underscores the importance of acknowledging one's insignificance against the broader forces at play in the universe.
The protagonist's struggle against the cold with only a dog as his companion points to the isolation and misjudgment in human efforts to conquer nature. This struggle serves to develop the existential themes of the story. Ultimately, the narrative urges readers to ponder the optimism or pessimism of mankind's place in the universe and to reflect on universal themes in literature, such as the human condition and our relationship with nature.