| Short story is an important part of London's works. Some of his excellent short stories have been very popular among readers. But in China, study of his short stories is in a preliminary stage and is rather scattered and fragmentary compared with the study of his famous novels like The Call of the Wild,John Barleycorn and Martin Eden.Based on the study of the historical background and London's personal experiences, this thesis will focus on three of London's best short stories"The Law of Life","Love of Life"and"To Build a Fire"and discuss about the protagonists'battle between life and death in the cold Northland. In the stories the author depicted the infinity and hostility of the Northland, whose aim was to crush the intruders from the civilized world. The Northland appeared to be an indifferent killer but in fact it is also a redemptive force. The Northland then becomes a symbol with messages to be deciphered.This thesis consists of three chapters. Chapter One centers on the historical background and personal experiences of the author. Chapter Two analyses the coldness, the hostility, the destructiveness and the redemptive function of the Northland. Chapter Three focuses on both the insignificance and the greatness of the intruder and explores the value of the battle in the Northland. Through the analysis, this thesis draws such a conclusion: The value of the men in the Northland depends on their attitudes to life and death rather than their endings. The hostility and destructiveness of the Northland did not indicate that it was a completely negative factor. It was precisely the hostility and destructiveness that could test and restore the intruders'many merits and virtues lost in the advancement of their civilization.The heroes in the Northland either died or were seriously damaged. Yet their spirit never dies. In fact, their spirit had come to the civilized world via London's exciting Northland tales and inspired generations of people there. |
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