To Build a Fire

explain what london means when he describes the man as "quick and alert in the things of life but only the things and not the significances". How does the "blindness" help bring about his downfall?

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The man is strong and quick thinking. He, however, lacks imagination. He sees nature as a one dimensional stretch of land to beat. His "blindness" stems from not respecting the utter majesty and unforgiving power that nature can wield. He fails to see the significance of the intense cold, his dog's apprehension and the countless ways the elements might turn against him. The man has chances to stop and make camp put he blindly surges ahead pushing his luck in an environment that has little patience for pride and arrogance.

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