The Law of Life is a short story written by Jack London. This short story is an exploration of nature’s indifference to any human emotions. The story is set in the frozen wilderness of Yukon to properly portray the themes of survival, ageing, and death. I picked this story because I enjoyed reading The Call of the Wild by the author. Although the premise of this story sounds morbid, I was intrigued by it.
The story focuses on Old Koskoosh, an elderly Inuit man who has become too weak to continue traveling with his tribe. According to tribal custom, he is left behind with a small fire, a piece of meat, and memories of his past. As he waits for death, Koskoosh reflects on his life. He thinks of his youth, his strength, his family, and the many companions who have faced a similar fate before him. These memories serve him as a reminder that what he is facing is not unique, but part of a cycle for every living being.
The description of the harsh natural setting really matters to the story. The Yukon landscape is not romanticized at all; it’s shown as cold, silent, and even unforgiving. One thing prominent in the story is this theme that nature does not care about Koskoosh’s loneliness, his fear, or any past contributions to his tribe. Instead, it follows an unchanging rule that only the strong survive here. Here, the central theme of the story is emphasized, which is the law of life. This theme shows that survival depends on strength and usefulness; there is no place for emotions or sentiment.
An interesting element of this story for me was the restraint in emotions. Koskoosh’s character does not react in anger to his fate, but he seems to accept the situation, even understand it. This added more emotional impact to the story for me. It’s subtle yet powerful about confronting the inevitability of death and human’s temporary existence, especially compared to nature’s cycle of life. The writing style is straightforward yet impactful. The vivid descriptions of the frozen landscape, as well as Koskoosh’s fading senses, help create a strong atmosphere of isolation and death’s inevitability. There is a lack of drama in the story, which keeps the attention on internal reflection, making this story more philosophical, rather than being driven by actions.
The Law of Life by Jack London is definitely not a comfort read. It poses many thought-provoking questions and forces us to reflect on mortality and our place in the natural world. The pace of the story kept me engaged; it does get emotionally heavy. Overall, it’s a very good story with its blend of realism and philosophy.
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