Characterization of the dog

Besides the man, there is one other important character in the short story “To Build a Fire” by Jack London, the dog. Although it is not human, the author portrays him in contrast to the man and makes readers feel like the dog is also thinking and has his own wisdom.

The dog functions as a symbolic character in the short story, as it is the opposite of the man. He represents nature and natural instinct for survival. His outer characterization presents him as a husky: “…a big native husky, the proper wolfdog, gray-coated and without any visible or temperamental difference from its brother, the wild wolf.”

Inner characterization

The main trait of the animal’s inner characterization is his wisdom coming from his instinct of survival. Unlike his master, the dog is aware that such a cold weather is not for traveling, and that the cold can be dangerous for living creatures: “The animal was depressed by the tremendous cold. It knew that it was no time for traveling. Its instinct told it a truer tale than was told to the man by the man’s judgment.”

Like any animal, the dog is concerned with its own survival and well-being. This is why he feels the lunch fire should not have been abandoned and why he seems to be constantly ‘thinking’ about taking shelter from the cold:

…made it question eagerly every unwonted movement of the man as if expecting him to go into camp or to seek shelter somewher...