Through his decision to not give the man a name in his story, London immediately severs the audience’s ability to resonate with the character’s arrogant-based actions. London writes, “Undoubtedly it was colder than 50 below. But exactly how much colder he did not know. But the temperature did not matter” (65). Most would argue that temperature absolutely matters when traveling in 50-below weather, yet this man could not cast aside his pretentious rationality and deduce that there are natural forces that are beyond man’s control. The man in the story also most likely serves as a representation of any and every human who behaves similarly.

2A) Serving as insight into the thought process of his character, London writes, “He was headed for the old camp on Henderson Creek, where the boys were already. They had come across the mountain from the Indian Creek country. He had taken the long trail to look at the possibility of floating …show more content…
This fell on the branches beneath. This process continued, spread- ing through the whole tree. The snow fell without warning upon the man and the fire, and the fire was dead. Where it had burned was a pile of fresh snow” (73). Nature could not care less about the anguish the man is going through. After he had built the fire while being covered in frost, snow had fallen through the branches and onto his fire, immediately putting the fire out.
3B) Furthermore, London also writes, “And then it happened. At a place where there were no signs, the man broke through. It was not deep. He was wet to the knees before he got out of the water to the firm snow” (71). Despite all the things the man is going through, he falls into a ditch of water, proving once again that nature can be unforgiving and it is ultimately out of the man’s control when nature does decide to be