In Jack London’s To Build A Fire, the theme of peripeteia, or a reversal of fortune, is a major idea throughout the story. as the main character gradually loses his self-confidence during his ill-fated journey. In the beginning of the narrative, the man is aloof to the environment, giving no more thought to the freezing temperatures as he would a bird flying by. His canine companion, however, knew the danger that the foolhardy man was putting them both in. Despite the ice forming on his face, and the feeling of numbness creeping into his fingers, he remains confident in his own abilities. However, the presence of frost marks the beginning of the man’s doubt and later undoing. Much to the dog’s relief, the man built a fire some time later, but only stopped for a little while. As the cold starts to affect him, he begins to recall the old man’s advice back at Sulphur Creek, and how he had ignored his words. The man continued on his journey, thinking only of his destination and not of the perils. The event that drastically changes the story, and the man’s demeanor, is him falling into the river. Despite only being wet to the knees, the incredible cold meant that even a little bit of water could, and turned out to, be a death sentence. Working through his rising panic, the man is able to build a fire to dry out his feet and shoes. Before he can do that, though, his lack of foresight catches up to him: the fire he built brings a pile of snow from the trees above onto itself. Dejected, the man begins a futile struggle to light another fire. However, due to the frostbite’s extensity, he cannot take proper control of his hands, and fails miserably. All this time, the dog is watching with dismayed eyes at the “fire-provider's” failure to do such. After an ill-fated attempt to kill the dog and use its corpse for warmth, the man begins to accept his death and the fact that it was his own foolishness that drove him to that point.