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London skillfully retains tension throughout the story, revealing the protagonist’s frantic attempts to rekindle his hopes as each step forward is met with despair. His fingers, numbed by the cold, hinder his movements, showcasing just how quickly the environment strips away the capacity for rational thought and action.
Isolation: A Concomitant Fear
The story resonates deeply with the fear of isolation, which permeates classic horror fiction. In works such as The Shining and John Carpenter's The Thing, the cold traps characters, cutting them off from the outside world and exacerbating their internal struggles. In London’s tale, the icy wilderness amplifies the protagonist’s isolation; every moment brings him closer to a realization he refuses to accept until it is too late.