Jack London's "The Law of Life"
...s. London applies his credo to the symbolic nature of the fire in “The Law of Life.” London once said, “I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot” (Hartzell 1 of 3). As he related fire to his own life, he did with the main character of the story, Koskoosh. This attitude is displayed in Koskoosh when he asks himself why he should cling to life just before dropping a fiery stick in the snow (London 976). The stick being dropped in the snow represents Koskoosh’s life coming to a halt. Throughout the story, the fire that kept Koskoosh warm represented his life. As it burned out, Koskoosh grew closer to death. The old moose in London’s story symbolized Koskoosh. Just as the moose had been left behind by its herd, Koskoosh was abandoned by his tribe (London 973, 975). Both had grown old and would hinder or danger their groups. The moose put up a fight when it was being attacked by wolves, which was symbolic of Koskoosh’s attempt to ward off a wolf with a burning stick (London 975-76). For both, death was inevitable and the wolves were successful in capturing their prey. In this short story, the pack of hungry wolves is not only what killed Koskoosh, but they are the symbol of death. When he heard them howling, he knew that his time on earth was about to end. London described the wolves as a grim, inescapable circle closing in like a dark point (London 976). ...