To Build a Fire

What does the story suggest about animal instinct as opposed to human instinct?

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The dog symbolizes the animal instinct that is so in tune with nature. The dog is a, "big native husky, the proper wolf dog, grey-coated and without any visible or temperamental difference from its brother, the wild wolf..." Its instincts are born out of generations of evolution; the husky and the elements answer to the same rhythms in nature. The dog lags behind well aware of the danger in continuing the journey. The man is stubborn. He has separated himself from the rhythms of nature. His only instinct is to his arrogance and folly. So, the man continues not paying heed to the dog's hesitance.