Jack London: The Law of LIfe Essay

LALAJack capital of the United Kingdom The Law of LifeCulture is the expression of our genius on how we live, interact, believe, where we gain our knowledge, and it besides distinguishes people from another in divergent societies. The culture of Native Ameri send words is so hi stratum rich and illustrious cultured that it cannot be easily misinterpreted by anyone that is foreign of their way of breeding. In The Law of Life, Jack London to-dos the culture of the Native Americans and their proclivity towards conduct as it revolves around pragmatism and The Survival of the Fittest. We can describe The Law of Life as the circle of vivification. The circle of life begins when a man is born and ends with his or her final stage. Koskoosh thinks of the leaves turning in autumn from green to brown, of fresh girls that grow more and more attractive until they key a man, raise pincerren and lav grow ugly by age and labor (London, 389). The cycle of life and death is always indis put equal in life. Death is a natural cycle as is experience the distinction is how death occurs and affects a support creature. In the Law of Life, by Jack London, the law becomes pl relief to the state due to the nature of their survival in the rough conditions in the artic regions. For example, deep and heavy cytosine may make it harder for hunters to bring back food for the tribe, or animals may go into hibernation to keep their immature safe when they be vulnerable.Whenever necessities are scarce, the tribe migrates from one area to another for food, shelter, medicine, livable weather conditions, fit to habitats that are more hospitable, and the elderly and disability people are left alone so that they go away not be a hindrance on the migration and the survival of the tribe. The availability of food and water can permute through fall out the year. When I first read Jack Londons short story The Law of Life for my assigned literature reading for English class, I was deeply impressed by Jack Londons writing style. Jack Londons sense of observation do his stories deeply realistic as if they were happening right before us as if we were in the characters dress therefore, the entire story gave us a mouth full of food for thought of what could possibly civilize next. Jack Londons short story was based around how Naturalism affects everyone in their lives. Naturalism plays a magnificent part on the tribes that are faced to whatever situations in life that their heredity, friendly conditions, and environment prepare them to encounter.Naturalism in literature is explained as an attempt to be true to nature by not writing unrealistic stories to the highest degree what life is like (Weegy). Naturalistic writers try to put run through that mans existence, is determined by things over which he has no control over and about which he can exercise olive-sized by if he has any choice. mankind can exclusively do nothing to prevent nature from taking a certain course however, man does curb the ability, to create protection from inclement weather, by way of shelter, clothing, and supplies. Man is equal with every(prenominal) life and nature. We all eat, sleep, live, and eventually die. Many of Jack Londons stories talk about the constant struggle of go and staying alive. As discussed in class, nature doesnt care who you are or where you come from it is something that is continual and non- occlusionping. Man and the environment are two together in the struggle to compete for life. The aim is survival. Darwins guess of the big fish that eats up the small fish, explains The Survival of the Fittest. Man and environment are both confronted between infinite, irrational Mother Nature and irrational human beings.The arctic region weather is harsh and endless. In the horrid, c sure-enough(a) weather, the man act like the wild animal however, the wild animals live a less troublesome life of what the tribe members bring in to encounter. For example, the animals survive exceptionally by their natural instincts by avoiding any type of danger. Man usually is fated to death when they cannot support the tribe any longer. afterward death, man became part of the nature and joined the endless and everlasting process of nature. Unfortunately, an older man named Koskoosh is potently affected by naturalism. He is slowly growing older and is losing his ability to keep up with the tribe as the days go by. The seasons are changing and therefore, the tribe has to migrate for food and Koskoosh is too damage to make the trip and he may hold his family back. He understands that those who are weak, old and are not able to take care of themselves must move on with their lives and give up a bug out to the healthier and younger, living human beings.Koskoosh knows what is in store for him since he has disabilities and wont be able to benefit the tribe. He sits aside observing the tribe pack up making sure he isnt a burden to them wh ile they prepare for migrating. In the distance he listens to his granddaughter give commands to break camp. He only wishes for her to at least say goodbye to him. Life calls her, and the duties of life, notdeath. Koskoosh understands that if she slows down to visit with him it will jeopardize the health of the tribe, because they must follow the caribou. Koskoosh can also hear the cries of little Koo-tee who in his mind is a fretful child, and not over strong. He feels as though the child would die soon, again he is internally enforcing to himself that death will come to everyone (London, 389-390). Despite the law, he free somewhat anticipates for an exception to himself since his son is the leader of the tribe. He hears a soft footstep of a mocassin in the vitamin C, and then feels a hand rest on his head. His son, the current chief, has come to say good-bye. not all sons do this for their overprotects, and Koskoosh is quietly grateful and proud. The son asks, Is it well with y ou? The people have left, the son explains, and they are moving quickly because they have not eaten well for some time. Koskoosh assures him that all is well, that he knows he is old and near death, and that he is ready. He compares his life to that of last years leaf, clinging lightly to the stem. The first jot that blows and I fall.My voice is become like an old womans. My eyes no longer pose me the way of my feet, and my feet are heavy, and I am tired. It is well (London, 890). The son walks away, and now Koskoosh is truly alone. He meetes out his hand to check his woodpile and thinks about how the fire will slowly die out, and he will slowly freeze to death (Overview). Koskoosh is expected to freeze to death, most likely, to starve, or to be killed and eaten by animal predators. It was a continuing tradition that he could not prevent. It was easy, Koskoosh thinks, all men must die (Overview). It is the law of life. To drop by the wayside the weak was not only understandable but it was helpful to the existence of the whole tribe. While he did not complain about his fate, he became sympathetic to other living beings that were abandoned when the group concur that they were no longer needed in the tribe however, in his childhood he would not have given a second thought on leaving an old tribe member behind to fend for him or herself.He remembered how he had abandoned his own father on an upper reach of the Klondike one winter, the winter before the missionary came with his talk-books and his box of medicines (London 392). Left in the frozen weather where the snow and whole land is covered by an endless blanket of snow, he recalls doing the same thing to his father decades ago, throwing him away like a piece of trash. In his final moments, Koskoosh commemorates of a time when he was young with afriend, Zing-ha, and witnessed a moose fall down and fight his way back to standing object where the moose succeeded in stomping one of the wolves to death. The m oose fought until it was exhausted and overpowered by the pack of wolves. Koskoosh concludes that nature did not breast whether a man lived or died the continuing of the species was all that was to be substantive in the law of life. All things have a certain task to maintain in life, and all things after finish this task must die. The moose which fought to the very end is a symbol of foreshadowing of what happens to all living creatures that all men must die and that this is what life is supposed to be.While recapping those memories of when he was younger, he feels the cold, smashed nose of the wolf on his bare, cold skin. His mind flashes back to the wounded, bloody moose from long ago that was taken down by the same creature. This time, more horrific memories are being brought up in his mind. The blood, the big yellow eyes and the barbed fangs of the pack, and the way they enclosed slowly on the moose, slowly easing up on their prey until the opportunity came to attack. His ins tinct for survival was to maneuver a flaming limb at the wolf to make him back away. The wolf retreats, but calls out to his pack, and suddenly there are many wolves gathered around Koskoosh in a pack. Koskoosh remembers the moose, remembers that death will come whether he fights against it or not. As content with death as he seemed to be, he is now fighting for his life, knowing hes about to die. Koskoosh finally realizes what he is doing and that he probably really doesnt stand a chance. What did it matter after all? Was it not the law of life? Why should I cling to life (London, 394)?He then drops the stick into the snow and rests his tired head on his knees and waits for death to take him. In conclusion, all human beings eventually face eternal rest regardless of our cultures it is the irrevocable of death. It is impossible to change or turn back life it is like a river, no one can stop its flow. This is unfortunate, but nature is unforgiving, powerful, and knows no compassion. Koskoosh goes through his memories of his own lifes trials and misfortunes to try and give him an sympathy of why he is sacrificing his life as an individual. He believes we are all going to face death and we will always strive to survive, no matter the odds in our favor.Works CitedMain stem turn of The Law of Life. Weegy. 19 March 2013. http//www.weegy.com/home.aspx?ConversationId=70DA70B3. Overview The Law of Life. Short Stories for Students. Ed. Sara Constantakis. Vol. 35. Detroit Gale, 2012. Literature Resource Center. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. London, Jack. The Law of Life. The Bedford Anthology of American Literature Vol 2. Ed 2008. Susan Belasco and Linck Johnson. Boston Bedford/St. Martins, 2008. Pp. 388-394.