Jack London was one of Chris McCandless’ favorite authors. After reading “To Build a Fire,” consider the following elements, or themes, from the story and explain why each one might have appealed to McCandless: 1. Fight for Survival/Perseverance

I think that Chris had a romantic version of survival and perseverance in nature that differed from reality. Chris thought there was some balance to be struck with the natural world that might follow philosophy espoused by his favourite authors. Survival and perseverance in the wilds of Alaska meant punishing emotional and physical challenges that Chris was not prepared for. Chris did not see the indifference of nature. The man in To Build a Fire felt perseverance of body and spirit could outlast anything nature could throw at him. In the end, both protagonists are humbled by the natural world in ways that they had not imagined.