knew the color of the sky," is the opening line of Stephen Crane's short story "The Open Boat." Jack London's short story "To Build a Fire" also opens with a reference to the impenetrability of the "exceedingly cold and gray" skies. Nature is an integral part of the setting of any work of literature, and sometimes features prominently enough to become like a character with features that directly challenge the protagonist. Both "Open Boat" by Stephen Crane and "To Build a Fire" by Jack London are short stories that feature nature prominently enough to fuse the elements of setting and characterization as the protagonists struggle for their own survival. Nature in these short stories is depicted as being a dichotomous force. It is a neutral element, in that nature has no egotistical motives like those of human beings. Yet nature is a formidable force that can seem cruel because it...
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