The Depiction of Nature's Power Over Humans and Character Building in the Short Story “The White Silence”
Keywords:
naturalism, human, nature, influence, naturalistic determinismAbstract
This chapter of the work will analyze the short story "The White Silence" by Jack London that follows the journey of Mason, a prospector in the frozen wilderness of the Yukon. As Mason travels alone through the harsh and desolate landscape, he encounters the profound and eerie phenomenon known as the White Silence. This is a moment when nature seems to come to a standstill, with no wind, no movement, and an overwhelming quietness. In the midst of this frozen stillness, Mason confronts his own mortality and experiences a deep sense of isolation. The story explores themes of human vulnerability in the face of nature's forces and the psychological impact of extreme conditions on an individual's perception. London's vivid descriptions and atmospheric writing style contribute to the story's evocative portrayal of the unforgiving Arctic environment and its impact on the human psyche.
References
London, Jack. "The White Silence." The Son of The Wolf, Grosset And Dunlap, 1900. First edition.
Bagotaj, Katarina. "Jack London’s The Law of Life." University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts, Department of English, 2012.
Dawkins, Richard. The Blind Watchmaker. London: WW Norton, 1986.
Dawkins, Richard. The Selfish Gene. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1976, 1989.
Edwards, Denis. "Review of Ted Peters." In Denis Edwards in His Own Words, edited by Anthony Kain and Hilary Regan, 371-374. Adelaide: ATF, 2020.
