Individualism
Mankind possesses a natural desire to be in touch with their inner self. In John Krauker's novel "Into the Wild", "Alexander Mccandles" tried to prove that the only way to truly be in touch with one's inner self is to be completely and totally isolated and or alone, but was faced with the truth that being completely self-reliant is impossible.
Within Krauker's novel the idea of self-reliance is rather prevalent. A young male named Chris Mccandless had a rather cushy life, but material items did not interest him and neither did the support of his parents, he was an intelligent man but rather stubborn. Mccandless had the idea that he could make it on his own in the Alaskan Bush completely alone without sufficient supplies.
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" Alexander Mccandless" who is actually Christopher Mccandless, was a rather independent teen and then adult, he provided for himself even though his parents lived a lavish life, he didn't have many friends which further escalated the idea that he could be alone by himself for an extended period of time. According to Dr. Li. Associate professor of psychology at Singapore management University, " Spending time with friends is a very natural activity that was likely necessary for survival over millions of years ago." this statement qualifies the idea that "Alexander Supertramp Mccandless" needed social interaction regardless of whether he thought he did or not. In Alaska, specifically the part that Mccandless was in , Fairbanks/Mt.Mkinley, rarely had any tourists and had basically no population other than animals. There was no way to interact with another human whether it be just for social interaction or to get help in order to survive. Christopher Mccandless was not alone in the belief that complete self-reliance is real. A young man in Oregon named Johnathon Croom, only 19, was inspired by Krauker's novel "Into the wild" and even more motivated by the movie. The young man thought he could carry on Mccandless' legacy by going out into the Oregon Forest with meager supplies just as Mccandless had done. The boy died within the month he had gone missing. Croom's father had stated in the …show more content…
The bush is an unforgiving place, however, that cares nothing for hope or longing. (4)" The primitive want and need to be in touch with oneself mentally, emotionally, and physically is what Alaska is a symbol of in "Into The Wild". When mankind feels insecure it is the biggest downfall within the human race, due to the fact that complete satisfaction and validation has not been secured. That idea brings light to the fact that complete self-reliance is not possible because one would be isolated from not only human interaction, but validation as well. Throughout the novel, it is repeatedly said that Mccandless was rather intelligent. To think that one can go out with meager supplies and into an area that is so desolate of resources and humans, does not seem like something an educated person would think. Mccandless communicated through letters/postcards with people who helped him along the way. "Hey Guys! This is the last communication you shall receive from me. I now walk out to live amongst the wild. Take care, it was great knowing you. ALEXANDER. (69) " By sending this letter and saying in a definite way that this IS the last communication that the reader will receive is a foreshadow into the fact that he KNEW his ideas were
Christopher Johnson McCandless, a man who seemed to have it all in life, decided to throw himself to the wind and become a vagabond adventurer with no real home. Just after McCandless had graduated from college at Emory University, he threw his whole identity away and became “Alexander Supertramp” the wanderer that nobody knew anything about. Why did he decide to leave his success? Did he plan to survive? What was his ultimate goal?
Into the Wild “‘ He was unheeded, happy and near to wild heart of life. ’”Christopher McCandless, pseudonym Alexander Supertramp makes the daunting decision to go off grid and live a nomadic lifestyle. Author Jon Krakauer uses fervent diction and descriptive imagery to depict McCandless’s turning point in his life and beyond to his final days in the Alaskan wilderness. Krakauer choses a specific tone to narrate the story, not far from a hypercritical sense.
Living in the wild is not in any sense an easy tasked. Though Christopher Johnson McCandless lasted 113 days alone in the Alaskan Wilderness. The origins of the motivation behind this great expedition appear a little shaky, but to Chris, they were completely justified. Chris died around August 18, 1992, he died quite ironically as he had given “all the money in his college fund to OXFAM America, a charity dedicated to fighting hunger.” (20), yet he himself died of starvation.
Jonathan Ho Case ERWC 16 January 2018 Inspiring Life of Chris McCandless In the biography, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer published in 1996, the protagonist, Chris McCandless paves his own way of happiness through nature. Told in third-person, Krakauer addresses the theme by describing the settings of Chris McCandless’s adventure along the west coast of North America, establishing the main conflict of finding happiness, and incorporating the literary device of characterization. Krakauer’s purpose is to introduce a different pathway of life contentedness , and a different perspective on what happiness means .
Into the Wild Essay Into the Wild is written by Jon Krakauer and is a biography. This book is the story of a man named Chris McCandless who graduated from college with a three point seven grade average and gave all his savings to charity .He then attempts to live off of the wilderness and is picked up by many kind people who agree to take him wherever he wants to go. All of these people offer him food ,shelter,or supplies but he refuses to take them stating that he wants to live off the wilderness. He very often is described to be a very independent person due to the actions that he takes in the book.
Into The Wild “Although he was rash, untutored in the ways of the backcountry, he wasn 't incompetent—he wouldn 't have lasted 113 days if he were”. This comment from Jon Krakauer’s book Into the Wild conveys his belief that young Christopher McCandless who is the focus of his novel may have been young and inexperienced in regards to the Alaskan wilderness but he was capable of basic survival as he had demonstrated during his many day’s surviving the brutal environment of the Alaskan frontier. After Christopher McCandless met his untimely death alone in a school bus down the Stampede Trail in Alaska, Jon Krakauer received considerable criticism for his viewpoint that Christopher wasn’t “stupid, tragic and inconsiderate”. He firmly believed
Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer, tells the story of a young man named Christopher McCandless who decided to go and survive in the wilderness of Alaska without correct preparation. McCandless was a man with as transcendentalist-like mindset, an adventurer, an explorer, and a hiker. He migrated away from civilization and society with the goal of living in solitude and living his life to the fullest through nature. The audience was introduced to McCandless’ views towards society through McCandless’ journey through Alaska, and the depressing yet inspiring events that led up to his death. Krakauer creates emotional appeals to connect him with McCandless to credit himself as a writer, as well as to develop the audiences’ feelings of McCandless.
Throughout the course of Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild the reader can see that time and time again Chris McCandless is unprepared for what lies ahead of him, which is why he is not a noble man, nor should his journey be considered noble. While it is true that McCandless had gone on adventures before, nothing had prepared him for the bitter cold climate and the lack of food he had in Alaska. McCandless was not prepared physically or mentally and he did not bring anywhere near enough supplies for someone planning to spend the summer in the harsh environment of Alaska. While it wasn’t foolish for Chris to go out and try to find happiness for himself, it was foolish of him to have been unprepared to begin a difficult adventure in Alaska. Chris McCandless
Going out into the wild all by yourself can be nerve wracking and lonely. Jon Krakauer makes Chris McCandless seemed like a noble person who took the initiative to try to go out and live into the wild. The book Into the Wild written by Jon Krakauer, is about a teenager named Chris McCandless leaving society and traveling to Alaska by himself with nothing else but a bag of rice and a small .22 caliber gun. Chris is heroic because he went to Alaska by himself without any knowledge of Alaska and didn’t know any of the dangers of Alaska. One way Krakauer make Chris seem noble is when Chris is about to enter Alaska he tells Gallien “ I’m goin’ to get on up there live off the land,go claim me a piece of the good life” (Krakauer 4).
Into the Wild Essay Most people go into the wilderness to go camping for a week or less than a week, then leave. Some stay for more than a week. Chris McCandless was in the wild for at least one hundred days. “ I’ve decided to live this life for some time to come. The freedom and the beauty of it is too good to pass up.”(pg.92)
The Alaskan Bush is one of the hardest places to survive without any assistance, supplies, skills, and little food. Jon Krakauer explains in his biography, Into The Wild, how Christopher McCandless ventured into the Alaskan Bush and ultimately perished due to lack of preparation and hubris. McCandless was an intelligent young man who made a few mistakes but overall Krakauer believed that McCandless was not an ignorant adrenalin junkie who had no respect for the land. Krakauer chose to write this biography because he too had the strong desire to discover and explore as he also ventured into the Alaskan Bush when he was a young man, but he survived unlike McCandless. Krakauer’s argument was convincing because he gives credible evidence that McCandless was not foolish like many critics say he was.
Into the Wild, a book by Jon Krauker and a film by Sean Penn, features the journey of Christopher McCandless, the son of wealthy parents who graduates from Emory University as a top student and athlete. However, instead of embarking on a prestigious and profitable career, he chooses to give his savings to charity, rid himself of his possessions, and set out on a journey to the Alaskan wilderness. Chris McCandless claims, “Happiness is only real when shared. " One should always be prepared to go into the wild. Chris McCandless, a young adult, made the egotistical decision to venture into the wild leaving behind his loved ones and future.
Society is a limitation, often preventing many from following their dreams or beliefs. Some may forsake these dreams and ideals and forget who they are in an attempt to conform. Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakauer narrates the story of Christopher McCandless, a young man from Virginia. McCandless hitchhiked to Alaska in 1992 to follow his beliefs and managed to live off the land for four months until he met his death in the wilderness. His story gained a lot of publicity and it has led to debates about his sanity and heroic qualities.
In the biography of Christopher McCandless, Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer writes “It’s not always necessary to be strong, but to feel strong.” Christopher McCandless’s journey was one of a courageous and brave young man that went Into the Wild. McCandless chose to abandon the material things that society believes are needed to survive and even though his dream was viewed as unrealistic, McCandless followed it. “I'm going to paraphrase Thoreau here... rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness... give me truth. “ A quote Chris McCandless wrote in his journal.
Chris McCandless was smart, a straight A student, got accepted into Emory University, and decided to not apply his knowledge when he went into the wilderness of Alaska in 1992. Into the Wild, a biography written by Jon Krakauer, is about Chris’s story of after he graduated high school and went into the wild. Right after he went to high school, he traveled the country in his yellow datsun, met amazing people, and came back to finish college. After finishing college with a degree, he went hitchhiking across the country again and went into the alaskan wilderness, without ever coming back alive. Chris McCandless went into the wild unprepared with any good materials, he did not have a very good knowledge of what he was actually doing, and he left