“To Build a Fire” written by Jack London, was published in 1902 and then reissued in 1908, which is the most recognized. London sailed to join the Klondike Gold Rush in July 1897, his time there influenced many of his works. The main character of the story is an anonymous man, a new arrival in the Yukon, who goes to meet his friends on an old concession. His companion is a large husky wolfdog, whose instincts tell him it's too cold to venture outside, but he relentlessly follows the provider of food and fire. All the elements are against the man, but he continues to move forward even though he loses feeling in his hands and legs. The man finally realizes that he is going to die; he lies down in the snow and falls asleep comfortably. The dog stays with the man for a while, confused and wondering why he is lying in the snow, he approaches the man curiously and sniffs; the smell of death filled his nostrils. The dog leaves the man and seeks other providers of food and fire. In London's "To Build a Fire", he shows the perseverance that man undergoes at different stages in the face of his impending death. When man begins this journey, he is unaware of the fate that Mother Nature has in store for him. It's seventy-five below zero, his beard is frozen and covered in amber icicles from spitting out his dip. The more the man walks the more his cheeks start to become frostbitten and he rubs them trying to keep the feeling, he keeps moving forward brushing the problem away without thinking about it. A little painful, that's all; they were never serious. (3). Sublimated by the slow effects of the weather on him, he stops around noon for a lunch break. Instead of immediately building a f...... middle of paper...... the Sulfur Creek elder muttered. (11). He then falls into what seems to be the best sleep of his life and the dog stays for a while before finally leaving and finding the other "food and fire providers". (11)The perseverance shown by the man in Jack London's short story "To Build a Fire" is a true testament to the human spirit. Even when everyone around him is visibly against him, he continues to move forward and try to survive. Once all hope was gone, he continued to remain calm and somewhat lucid. London's experiences while living in the Klondike helped him capture the essence of the wilderness and put it into detail to influence the outcome and destiny of his character's life. Works Cited London, Jack. “To make a fire.” The Century Magazine August 1908: b. page. The World of Jack London. Internet. March 16. 2014.