Naturalism is a literary genre that started as a literary movement in late nineteenth century in literature, film, theater and art”(“Naturalism”). Naturalism is a movement that valued ideas about how the environment shaped and dictated how humans lived. This movement was constructed off of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and followed his concept of “survival of the fittest.” In Jack London’s “The Law of Life” he uses the setting and various symbols to demonstrate his belief in naturalism. Throughout the story, different symbols such as a moose, fire, and Koshkoosh demonstrate this principle. He had also used the season to further develop his belief.
The Inuit tribe was placed in the Klondike region of the Canadian Yukon territory. The Klondike …show more content…
The moose symbolizes the weakest on Earth, in other terms, those not fit for survival. Ultimately, the moose is going to die because it is prey and not a predator, thus, letting nature take its course. “Here the great animal fought desperately. Twice had he been dragged down, as the snow attested , and twice had he shaken his assailants clear and gained footing once more. He had done his task long since, but none the less was life dear to him” (London 88). Prey trying to beat the laws of nature and eventually failing shows his belief on how life is dictated by “survival of the fittest.” In this particular memory, Koshkoosh had seen the aftermath of nature claiming a life. “The trail was red now, and the clean stride of the great beast had grown short and slovenly. Then they heard the first sounds of the battle-- not the full-throated chorus of the chase, but the short, snappy bark which spoke of close quarters and teeth to flesh... It was the end they saw” (London 88). The moose is finally killed by the wolves, letting nature drive life. This was the most significant memory that showed Koshkoosh that nature dictates your life. In the ending of the story Koshkoosh gives up “again he saw the last stand of the old bull moose, and Koshkoosh dropped his head wearily upon his knees” (London 90). …show more content…
He uses the moose as a symbol of the weakest on the Earth and it helps demonstrate how life should go. The fire, a symbol of comfort and life, had been diminished by his acceptance of death. In turn, Koshkoosh symbolizes the once predator turned prey. Lastly, the setting of the Klondike region in Canada’s Yukon Territory sets the stage for nature to take its course. It’s cold, barren atmosphere allows for the reader to see that nature is harsh and unforgiving and no matter the class, age, or race it can take lives. London believed “that the survival of the fittest applied to classes as well as to individuals and that the proletariat was the class most fit to survive….” (Campbell 163). He had intertwined these ideas to tell the reader that people should allow nature to take its course. This means that we should not fear death and to be more accepting of it. In short, by accepting death and nature's role in this process, the human race can truly die
The Inuit tribe was placed in the Klondike region of the Canadian Yukon territory. The Klondike …show more content…
The moose symbolizes the weakest on Earth, in other terms, those not fit for survival. Ultimately, the moose is going to die because it is prey and not a predator, thus, letting nature take its course. “Here the great animal fought desperately. Twice had he been dragged down, as the snow attested , and twice had he shaken his assailants clear and gained footing once more. He had done his task long since, but none the less was life dear to him” (London 88). Prey trying to beat the laws of nature and eventually failing shows his belief on how life is dictated by “survival of the fittest.” In this particular memory, Koshkoosh had seen the aftermath of nature claiming a life. “The trail was red now, and the clean stride of the great beast had grown short and slovenly. Then they heard the first sounds of the battle-- not the full-throated chorus of the chase, but the short, snappy bark which spoke of close quarters and teeth to flesh... It was the end they saw” (London 88). The moose is finally killed by the wolves, letting nature drive life. This was the most significant memory that showed Koshkoosh that nature dictates your life. In the ending of the story Koshkoosh gives up “again he saw the last stand of the old bull moose, and Koshkoosh dropped his head wearily upon his knees” (London 90). …show more content…
He uses the moose as a symbol of the weakest on the Earth and it helps demonstrate how life should go. The fire, a symbol of comfort and life, had been diminished by his acceptance of death. In turn, Koshkoosh symbolizes the once predator turned prey. Lastly, the setting of the Klondike region in Canada’s Yukon Territory sets the stage for nature to take its course. It’s cold, barren atmosphere allows for the reader to see that nature is harsh and unforgiving and no matter the class, age, or race it can take lives. London believed “that the survival of the fittest applied to classes as well as to individuals and that the proletariat was the class most fit to survive….” (Campbell 163). He had intertwined these ideas to tell the reader that people should allow nature to take its course. This means that we should not fear death and to be more accepting of it. In short, by accepting death and nature's role in this process, the human race can truly die