. Works of naturalism often address the theme of survival of the fittest. Give examples that show how London’s story develops this theme. What message does the story convey about the survival of the fittest?

Jack London specialized in stories about the wilderness. His running theme involved the raw majesty and power of the elements. Naturalism was London's mantra and this story is a perfect example of this. In "To Build a Fire" the setting is in the Yukon. Man will always fail at survival of the fittest when his opponent is nature. The man failed to notice the warnings of nature and, in his arrogance and hubris, was not equipped to withstand what nature can dish out. The dog and the elements are in sync with nature’s rhythms; the man is not. London's familiar theme of respect for this setting is hammered home when the man freezes to death alone in the snow while the dog survives quite easily.