The Law Of Life Essay Examples

‘The Law of Life’ by Jack London is an enigmatic story focusing on survival and continuity of species. This story is written in context of an ancient Indian tribe that believes the needs of the society and that of nature surpass individual wants. London narrates the attitude towards life that is adopted by this ancient tribe, through the ageing life of their old chieftain Koskoosh. In this story, the principles of naturalism and the cycle of life are clearly brought out. This paper intends to analyze and bring out the concepts laid out in the short story, ‘Law of Life’ by Jack London.
Age has finally caught up with old Koskoosh, and this can be confirmed by his long gone eyesight and withered forehead; long gone are the useful days of his youth. Most surprisingly, his acute sense of hearing is the only youthful attribute that Koskoosh can be proud of in the last days of his life. “Though his sight had long since faded, his hearing was surprisingly attentive, and the slightest sound penetrated to the glimmering intelligence which yet abode behind the withered forehead, but which no longer gazed forth upon the things of the world.” Old Koskoosh is aware of his final days as the sun makes its long arc across the sky. As the old Koskoosh`s tribe broke camp, Koskoosh cannot help but notice the youthfulness in his granddaughter who has a long life ahead of her unlike him. “Camp must be broken Youthful life and its duties reached out its hand to her, but unfortunately the old man was very close to death.”
Having spent the better part of his life serving as the tribe`s chief, Koskoosh’s time to be left behind by the society has finally come. Old Koskoosh hears the whimpers of a child accompanied by the soothing gutturals from its mother, and cannot help but reflect on life and its balances. “It would die soon, perhaps, and they would burn a hole through the frozen tundra and pile rocks. Nature has a way of maintaining a balance between living creatures, and only the strongest species is left to survive the harsh realities that nature has to offer.
Now that Koskoosh`s tribe believes in nature`s miraculous ways of ensuring survival of species, they pack up and set trail for greener pastures leaving behind the old man whose useful days are long gone. “The tribesmen hurry. Their bales are heavy, and their bellies flat with lack of feasting. The trail is long and they travel fast. go now. It is wellthey left! And were nowhere to be seen. They had been released off is life, and he faced the last bitter hour alone.” The weather too seemed to be an agent of this principle of naturalism as it was snowing, in addition to the bone-chilling temperatures that stilled the air, “The morning is gray, and the cold has broken. It will snow presently. Even now it is snowing.” Nature had surely taken its course and decided to rid the tribe of its ‘burden’ to ensure its survival.
Old Koskoosh clearly understanding the mechanisms involved in the interrelation between nature and life does not complain, but readily accepts his death no matter how painful he perceives it to be, “It is well. I am as a last year's leaf, clinging lightly to the stem. The first breath that blows and I fall. My voice is become like an old woman's. My vision is no longer reliable as it once was, nor are my weary feet. I am tired. It is well.” Old Koskoosh acknowledges how age has wasted him away to become a burden the society. His body is frail and he cannot be of any productive use to his tribesmen, “the memories of it made the old man shaky momentarily, he put in front his now weakly hand that went on to show how old the days of his life had now dawned, the hand returned to the shelter of his mangy furs, and he again fell to listening.”
Facing death like a warrior, Old Koskoosh deeply reflects on the canons of life that he and his tribe have since lived along for a long time, “the course of life, birth close to earth, life close to earth.” Koskoosh knew very well that all ‘flesh’ had to come to its ultimate end one day, as nature has its own rules that govern all is beneficiaries. Nature’s main interest lays lies in the survival of species and not in the interests of individuals, “Nature never soothes life; she has no concern for what is deemed as individual.” As a pack of wolves circled in on his frail, weak body, Koskoosh could do nothing to resist the deathly encounter, but only welcome death with open arms as an old friend. His tribe`s decision to leave him behind was prudent enough as nature had to take its course.