The Man Without Imagination
Every person has some humility, intelligence, or even imagination, right? However, the man Jack London portrays does not have any of those qualities. The “man” in To Build a Fire is exceedingly prideful, uncommonly dull witted, and lacked imagination.
Through most of the story, the man was abnormally arrogant about everything. He was a chechaquo, a new comer, nevertheless, he believed he was more knowledgeable about the Klondike than anyone else (92). The man believed his prior life experiences had given him sufficient preparation for the dangers of the Yukon. He thought the old timers were “womanish” because any person who could keep his head could travel alone. He thought he was stronger and more capable than the weak, scared old men who had mined and traveled in Alaska for a long time (103). …show more content…
The man was aware of the cold, but only considered it a discomfort; he did not believe it was a threat to his life (92). Even the dog knew that they should not be traveling in such freezing weather (94). In fact, even after his hand had been exposed to the severe temperature, he still thought it was just cold and there was nothing dangerous about it (98).
For most of the story, the man unnaturally lacked imagination. The story explicitly says, “...he was without imagination. He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significances [of those things] (92). ” He didn’t care what the temperature was; it was only a discomfort to him (93). The man only felt, he did not reason; everything he saw or felt was only pleasant or unpleasant
Every person has some humility, intelligence, or even imagination, right? However, the man Jack London portrays does not have any of those qualities. The “man” in To Build a Fire is exceedingly prideful, uncommonly dull witted, and lacked imagination.
Through most of the story, the man was abnormally arrogant about everything. He was a chechaquo, a new comer, nevertheless, he believed he was more knowledgeable about the Klondike than anyone else (92). The man believed his prior life experiences had given him sufficient preparation for the dangers of the Yukon. He thought the old timers were “womanish” because any person who could keep his head could travel alone. He thought he was stronger and more capable than the weak, scared old men who had mined and traveled in Alaska for a long time (103). …show more content…
The man was aware of the cold, but only considered it a discomfort; he did not believe it was a threat to his life (92). Even the dog knew that they should not be traveling in such freezing weather (94). In fact, even after his hand had been exposed to the severe temperature, he still thought it was just cold and there was nothing dangerous about it (98).
For most of the story, the man unnaturally lacked imagination. The story explicitly says, “...he was without imagination. He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significances [of those things] (92). ” He didn’t care what the temperature was; it was only a discomfort to him (93). The man only felt, he did not reason; everything he saw or felt was only pleasant or unpleasant