London creates a distinct theme by using a perpetual animal metaphor. Naturalism views humans as beasts. As beasts, humans have no control over their fate and can not hope or be naïve, which is a principle of naturalism. In “A Piece of Steak,” Tom King is a “sheer animal” (1) with “lion-like eyes—the eyes of a fighting animal” (1). King is fighting for his life, for his “mate and cubs,” (4) and fights with his “lightning paw” (8). King is the intelligent lion of his world and he has no hope or belief that he could win the fight; he only recognizes the possibility of winning. By extending this metaphor through the story, London creates a subtle atmosphere, which incorporates the tenets of naturalism. Because beasts bite despite any moral code
