To Build A Fire By Jack London Analysis

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Following the Advice of the Insightful Do you heed to the words of the wise? In the short story “To Build a Fire” by Jack London, the reader is introduced to the main character, a man who does not listen to the words of the knowledgeable. The short story exposes the fact that one should not ignore the advice of those more experienced than them. This essay will examine how one can learn from another person’s successes, how they have knowledge that the average person does not, and the consequences that can occur if one does not follow the advice. Firstly, as in the story “To Build a Fire”, when someone gives advice, often they have been in the situation they are advising. This means they have probably been in the same predicament and succeeded. …show more content…
They are wiser and more experienced. They know what the danger is and how to evade it. On page 79, the man says “You were right, old fellow. You were right,” with his dying breath. This example surely demonstrates how the wise and experienced have superior knowledge of the world and how it works, therefore one should always follow their teachings. Finally, one can easily become injured in precarious situations if they do not follow the advice of people who know what to do. According to Livescience, humans lose heat 25 times quicker when wet and cold compared to just the cold. The old man from Sulphur Creek had told the man to stay dry in the cold, which is the correct thing to do. Clearly the old man knew what to do in the cold. The man did not obey this advice and froze to death in the cold (79). This undoubtedly conveys to the reader that advice from the experienced should never be cast astray, or one could be injured and possibly perish.
In conclusion, one should follow the advice of those more experienced than them because they have been in the same situation and triumphed, they know more about the situation, and one can become injured or even perish if they do not follow the advice. Jack London’s story “To Build a Fire” is proof that one must follow the advice of the more sensible. Will you follow the advice of the

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