One of the themes that the short story “To Build a Fire”, by Jack London, is representing to us is the dominance that nature have on man, and their internal mutual struggle. In this struggle sometimes as winner is leaving man, but sometimes nature.
In this story the nature starts the battle by striking first. From the beginning it is imposing its dominance over the man. The extreme coldness is her best weapon which the nature is using constantly, and is surprising the man with unpredictable strokes. But the man is not far behind. He uses the fire to oppose at the coldness, and to represent his control over nature. Without his awareness quite nature allies are his arrogance and pride, and his lack of knowledge.