“To Build a Fire” written by Jack London, was published in 1902 and then republished again in 1908, which is the most recognized. London set sail to join the Klondike Gold Rush in July 1897, his time there influencing many of his works. The main character of the story is an unnamed man, a newcomer to the Yukon, who will meet his friends at an old claim. His companion is a large husky wolfdog, whose instincts tell him that it is too cold to venture outside, but he relentlessly follows those who provide him with food and fire. All the elements are against the man, but he continues to move forward even when he loses feeling in his hands and legs. The man finally realizes that he is going to die; he lies down on the snow and falls into a comfortable sleep. The dog stays with the man for a while, confused and, wondering why he is lying in the snow, curiously approaches the man and smells him; the smell of death fills his nostrils. The dog leaves the man and searches for the other providers of food and fire. In London's “To Build a Fire,” he shows the perseverance that man undergoes at various stages as he faces imminent death. When man begins this journey he is not aware of the destiny that Mother Nature has in store for him. The weather is seventy-five below zero, his beard is frozen and encrusted with amber icicles from spitting out the sauce. The longer the man walks, his cheeks begin to freeze and he rubs them to try to maintain the feeling, he keeps going, brushing the problem away without thinking." A little painful, that's all; they were never serious (3). Sublime about the slow effects the weather is having on him, he stops around midday for his lunch break. Instead of immediately building a f... half of paper... he muttered to the Sulfur Creek veteran. " (11). Then he falls asleep in what seemed to be the best sleep of his life and the dog stays for a while only to then leave and find the other “food providers and fire providers”. (11)The perseverance shown by the man in Jack London's story “To Build a Fire” is a true testament to the human spirit. Even when everything around him is obviously against him, he continues to move forward and try to survive. When all his hope was gone, he continued to remain calm and quite clear-minded. London's experiences in the Klondike helped him capture the essence of the wilderness and put it into great detail to influence the outcome and fate of his characters' lives. Works Cited London, Jack. "To light a fire." The Century Magazine August 1908: n. page The world of Jack London. Network. March 16. 2014.