How to Freeze to Death
The main character in this story seems to lack any common sense. It is difficult to describe from a rational view point exactly what is wrong with this man. Throughout the story he makes reference to advice he was given involving his journey. The advice was given from a person experienced in trekking the arctic temperatures. He was warned against going alone in temperatures below -50 degrees. Yet whether it was pure arrogance or ignorance that made him make the decision to ignore this advice is questionable.
In the beginning of the story it infers that the main character is incapable of thinking and evaluating situations as most people it is seems perhaps he suffered some sort of mental handicap. Which leads me to believe that ignorance played a part in the character’s final demise. Perhaps his inability to think things through in a broader spectrum impaired good decision making. Yet there are passages where he is shown to scoff at the advice given him. Which leads me to believe perhaps his pure arrogance put him in this situation. It seemed to me that he was so overly confident in himself he did not exercise any of the cautions that most people would have in the same situation.
He also may have gained a better perspective had he formed a stronger bond with his dog. The animal is native to the territory and therefore in his own fashion would have been able to warn and protect the character. Throughout the story the wolf/dog shows entirely more sense and a stronger need for self preservation than our main character does. The character seems almost blissfully unaware of the peril he has set himself against and treks along as though it were just a snowy afternoon. He is not properly prepared for his trek or any eventuality’s that may slow or hinder his journey. He ignores his bodies signals warning him to stop and get warm. To me the character seemed an arrogant, ignorant fool and the outcome of his story was pretty much inevitable....