The poem's topic is the rule of greed, bigotry, and cruelty over human society. In this poetry, six individuals were stranded in the cold by chance, and each possessed a piece of wood that could have been used as fuel for the passing fire to save each other. Instead, they were exploited by the greedy until all hope was lost. Greed is the root cause of violence in "The Cold Within". One man's desire for wealth overpowers his humanity, and he tries to steal another man's fire despite being well-fed. When confronted, he kills the man instead. Greed has also caused people to fight wars over land or resources without consideration for anyone else involved. In addition, it has led some people to torture and kill others simply for money or power. In conclusion, the main theme of "The Cold Within" is the danger of greed within human society. It can cause people to act violently towards their neighbors, even when there is no threat posed by them. This theme is illustrated through the story of six men who found themselves trapped in the cold after a shipwreck. Each one had a piece of wood that could have saved them but instead they used them to burn the other man instead. Greed has many forms within human culture, but always leads to destruction unless stopped.