The Inevitable Fate of Man Theodore Dreiser's ideas of naturalism were based on the premise that it is the novelist's duty to always tell the truth, especially in situations where that truth presents concrete facts on the topic. life. His literature, along with that of the other great naturalistic writers of the time, touches on uncomfortable themes that can sometimes call into question the motivations that move people. His works speak of the "true nature" of man: his selfish and stubborn emotions, his desire to progress in life and his stubbornness in attempting to overcome insurmountable obstacles. These naturalistic works can sometimes be pessimistic; characters are often pitted against forces in the natural world that they simply cannot overcome. Dreiser's "True Art Speaks Clearly" helps further define the ideas prevalent in naturalism in relation to Jack London's short story "To Build a Fire"; the emotions that drive Man, his struggle for life in dire circumstances, and his futility in facing the implacable hand of fate are all key components of naturalistic literature. Naturalism does not simply present life as it actually appears; emphasis is placed on taking a scientific view of how the natural world influences people and shapes their lives in various ways. People are unable to create their own future and can only “[respond] in vain to the things that [happen] to them” (Baym 548). Dreiser argues that the novelist's task is to present these findings “honestly and without subterfuge” (562). Ignoring man's vices and simply writing about the comfortable themes of life produces "a half-conceived notion of life which has no honest relationship either to the whole of nature or to man" (Dreiser 563). According to Dreiser, nat... half of the paper... our destiny. In the end, there was nothing that could survive and change his fate. The main purpose of nature literature is to detach itself from any one person and analyze how the principles of the natural world can affect people in myriad ways. According to the ideas of naturalism, people are victims of the callous hand of fate beyond their control. The illusion of free will is shattered, replaced by a deterministic view of life. Whatever a person does, external forces are the ultimate authority that governs his or her life. “To Build a Fire” by Jack London is an excellent example of these common themes of naturalism. Man in the story truly believes he can change his destiny and defeat the forces of nature he faces. However, just like many others before him, he too fails to overcome these forces and dies in the process.