The Law of Life
"The Law of Life" is a short story by the American naturalist writer Jack London. It was first published in McClure's Magazine, Vol.16, March, 1901.[1] In 1902, it was published in a collection of Jack London's stories, The Children of Frost, by Macmillan Publishers.[2]
| "The Law of Life" | |
|---|---|
| Author | Jack London |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Short story |
| Published in | The Children of Frost |
| Publication type | Magazine short story |
| Publisher | McClure's Magazine |
| Publication date | 1901 |
Plot summary
This short story covers the last 5 hours of the old and dying Inuit chief Koskoosh.[3] His tribe needs to travel in search of clothing and shelter so he is left to die because of his age and inability to see properly. Even his son has to leave him because he has a new family to feed and take care of.
However, the old Koskoosh is not dissatisfied as he knows the law of life and her desires. He accepts his fate peacefully and starts to visualize the events of his past. The images of both great famine and times of plenty vividly comes to his mind. As an experienced person he contemplates nature and ultimately accepts its individualism.
References
- "The Law of Life". Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- "Children of the Frost". Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- "The Law of Life". medhum.med.nyu.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
Further reading
- Pizer, Donald, 1966. Realism and Naturalism in Nineteenth-Century American Literature. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press.
- McClintock, James. 1975. White Logic: Jack London's Short Stories. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wolf House Books.
