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Naturalistic Purpose in Crane’s “The Open Boat” and London’s “To Build a Fire” Naturalism is best defined as nature’s indifference toward the trials of humanity, and it is also used to illustrate an individual’s relationship with nature. “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane and “To Build a Fire” by Jack London, are two works highly noted as examples of man’s struggle versus nature’s forces. Crane writes in a more philosophical story line, using natural elements that define character. London however, applies the scientific method to a life and death struggle, revealing a frightening truth about human reason to that of the primal instinct of a lesser creature (the sled dog). By using these purposes the reader focuses his or her attention on key elements of the narrative, such as character, setting, conflict and theme. This gives the authors a stronger base in drawing very respectable conclusions. In both “The Open Boat” and “To Build a Fire”, the authors use purpose to make a point about man’s rule in nature. “The Open Boat” opens with four men known as the captain, the oiler, the correspondent, and the cook, stranded in an ocean in a small dinghy. Based on a true experience Crane had on