Journal #16 - Crane’s “The Blue Hotel” and London’s “To Build A Fire”

Read the following quote and discuss how it applies to the main characters in both stories. In the course of this discussion, address how each of the characters is both similar and different:

“Determinisim governs everything … The writer must study the inherited traits of individual characterand the social condition of the time. Together, these elements determine the course of any action, the outcome of any life. Free will or self-determination is mostly an illusion, although chance is granteed a role in human affairs. Still, even the effects of chance are obliterated in the inevitable course determined by the interaction of inherited character traits and the social environment.“

Determinism is defined as anything that happens to a person throughout their life is not determined by them, but by outside causes. This means that people cannot prevent anything that is going to happen in their life. It depends on the person’s ancestors, where they grew up, where they live now, and what kind of instincts they have. Determinism is widely used in both “The Blue Hotel,” and “To Build A Fire.”
Many things in “The Blue Hotel” lead to the Swede’s death, including the horrible blizzard that made all of them stop at the hotel in the first place. At the end, Mr. Blanc and the Cowboy are talking, and Mr. Blanc says that they all had a part in the death of the Swede. Johnny Scully because he cheated at the card game in which Swede called him out and fighting with the Swede about it, Mr. Blanc for seeing Johnny cheat, but not saying anything to back up the Swede, the Cowboy for egging Johnny on in the brawl the Swede and Johnny were having, and the stranger, for stabbing the Swede. It is also somewhat the Swede’s fault because he kept talking about all of the people who died there before and how he was going to die that night. Even though he did not handle liquor well, he still drank some when he was offered. He fought with Johnny and made everyone think that he was strange and not want to be on his side. These show his lack of instincts and shows determinism at work.
Determinism is also a very large part of “To Build A Fire.” The man was surveying the land, but went too far away from camp to get back at a reasonable time. He is even warned by an older wiser man to be careful, but does not listen. He cannot keep a fire steady and burning, which is the one necessity to survival in the Alaskan wilderness. He misjudges time and his ability to survive. His fingers become frozen and he is no longer able to make a fire to keep warm. He believes that he will only lose a few fingers and toes, but, when he is unable to run very far, he comes to the conclusion that he will die out in the wilderness and his friends will find his body tomorrow. The dog that was with him knows the trail and runs back to camp so he can be warm and have a shelter. The man is unable to conquer nature and ultimately falls because of it.