Man's Sins example essay topic

Man's nature is a varied terrain, rife with shortcomings and surprising abilities. The two authors, London and Steinback, make use of this unusual dichotomy to convey their purpose. Man's often-pompous ego hinders his decision-making abilities, but behind this sinful shortcoming lays perseverance, which is astounding at times. Such an example of this could be derived from the two characters of Flight and To Build a Fire. Firstly, the extreme nature of their respective environments is harsh and impersonal, but proved that man can go a very long way to survive despite adverse conditions.

As for man's shortcomings, they are both numerous and varied, from Pepe's wine induced decision to kill a man for an insult, to the man's decision to go out alone in the freezing temperatures. In the end, everyone has to make a decision, to either humble himself or think rather of dignity. These decisions and actions by man in general, serve to propel the story's development of the characters done only in the way London and Steinback could have. The environments both characters traverse are easily the most extreme environments in the world. In Flight Pepe's injuries, including a piece of stone impaling his hand, the eventual infection and gangrenous effects thereof would really hinder someone trying to escape through a scorching desert. His dogged attempts at escape from the inevitable repercussions of his sins really highlight man's perseverance.

In comparison, the man from To Build a Fire poured his whole being into building a fire, yet in the end it was not enough, such is the fate of arrogance. The environments in these situations bring out the besting man, pushing him to the limit. The sins of the characters portrayed are those, which everyone has dealt with, pride, passion, vanity and the like. The plot lines of both the stories are initiated by the sins of the main characters. Pepe's sin of getting drunk, losing his temper, and killing a man are very serious sins, the repercussions of which are felt throughout the rest of the story. Comparably the man's sins are mainly associated with arrogance, in that he believed the old man's advice did not apply to him, that he could handle the arctic winter alone.

Not so, even in death he chose to think of dying with 'dignity' rather than making peace with God. The two authors used the contrasting natures of man to depict characters to which anyone could relate. After all is said and done, there is always one last chance to redeem yourself, that chance came rather expected ly to the man from To Build a Fire, he knew his likely fate half an hour in advance. Yet even after knowing that he will most likely die, he sat there thinking about how they would find him, not about the sins he has committed, or the people he has wronged. On the other hand, Pepe exemplifies true repentance by the simple sign of the cross the moment before he dies.

These two decisions made reflect on the characters; for they were no more holy, just more human, for to be human is to err. One of the characteristics of these stories are there amazing characterization for such a small story. Both heroes made bad decisions, and sometimes made up for them with acts of humility and repentance. Their human perseverance shines through their valiant struggle to stay alive in the most harsh and dangerous of natural environments. Just as everyone has, they made mistakes, sins which led to their imminent demise. In the end everyone makes a decision, either for better or worse, for that is the nature of human frailty.

London and Steinback crafted their words well, truly the masters of their domain, even if not of their lives.