Analysis Of Into The Wild By Chris Mccandless

Many children have had the desire to step out of their parents’ shadows and follow their dreams no matter how wild and crazy they might be. Christopher McCandless was more than an average young man trying to escape his parents’ control. He established his lifelong journey to live off the land by following the wise and spiritual ways set forth by Henry David Thoreau and others. He changed his identity to Alexander Supertramp, a character who is pure and cleansed of the artificial grime of the modern world. His voyage led him to his quest for knowledge and fulfillment, as well as his ultimate challenge. Chris McCandless’s self-forged identity was a true Transcendentalist venture because his journey encompassed the ideas and beliefs

In his novel, Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer establishes young Christopher McCandless as a heroic and brave figure. Krakauer supports his portrayal of Chris by utilizing a narrative form and focusing on the relatable, human aspects of Chris, and by contrasting his story with the cautionary tales that are scattered throughout the history of the Alaskan wilderness. The author’s purpose is to promote his own theories and opinions on the boy’s life and death in order to establish what he believes to be the truth. The author writes in a fond tone for aspiring wilderness explorers and their critics.

In Jon Krakauer's novel Into the Wild, the main character, Chris McCandless, seeks nature so that he can find a sense of belonging and the true meaning of who he is. However, it is the essence of nature that eventually takes his life away from him. At the end of his life, he is discovers his purpose and need of other people. After Chris McCandless death in Alaska, Krakauer wrote Into the Wild to reflect on the journey that McCandless makes. Krakauer protrays McCandless as a young man who is reckless, selfish, and arrogant, but at the same time, intelligent, determined, independent, and charismatic. Along with the irony that occurs in nature, these characteristics are the several factors that contribute to McCandless death.

Chris McCandless was a man who had everything to have a successful life. However, Chris McCandless decided to leave it all behind. Chris thought that he was going to go leave all society behind to go live in the wild. Chris thought that it was going to be very hard. Krakauer He was arrogant and ignorance toward the nature and society. In Into the Wild Chris leaves his life behind to live a life alone in the wild. In Into the Wild Krakauer’s message from Chris’s journey is for people to never get too ignorant or too confident because anything can go wrong at anytime.

Surviving in Alaska is no simple task. You are constantly putting your life in danger. Living of the and is no vacation. Christopher McCandless was not an exception to these facts. In the book Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer, the protagonist Christopher McCandless dies due to his inexperience surviving in climates like Alaska. What happened to him could have been prevented. First of all, Chris would have had a better chance at survival if he was more prepared to live in Alaska. Secondly, Chris made many mistakes that led to his death that could have be less severe if he knew what to do. Finally, Chris was not the only one that made mistakes that cost them their lives.

Throughout his journey, McCandless met several people who genuinely wanted to help and befriend him. However, he was so committed to his Alaskan Odyssey that he felt like human relationships were just a distraction, not a necessity. One of these people, Ronald Franz, enjoyed McCandless’ company so much that he wanted to adopt him. McCandless reacted to this proposition by pursuing a job offer and discreetly slipping out of Franz’s life. Once the job offer proved to be a fluke, McCandless desperately called Franz and asked for a ride. By asking for help in the form of a car, McCandless demonstrates that his journey was beginning to challenge his beliefs. Although McCandless was initially against materialism, he was beginning to realize that it was also beneficial to his journey. By abandoning his old beliefs, McCandless demonstrates that exploring nature is an experience that can significantly change one’s beliefs.

In Thoreau's Civil Disobedience, he argues that when civil laws conflict with an individual's morality, the individual should follows his conscience. Thoreau like many Transcendentalists felt a less involved government was best. Thoreau wrote, "That government is best which governs not at all." Obviously, Thoreau realized that he could afford to take this open opinion on government because of the American government. But he felt that government's authority should be limited to physical matters of the country, such as infrastructure and orderliness. He felt a government that become involved in moral matters such as sobriety and slavery was a government over-stepping its boundaries. Ultimately, Thoreau and other transcendentalists felt a utopian society would be the best.

In 1992, when Chris McCandless abandoned modern society and fled to Alaska to find himself and, in the long run, lose his life, Americans from all over saw his death as a tragic downfall, and his story as a relatable and moving tale of a young man simply trying to make a difference. On the other hand, others looked at his journey to be an inevitable suicide-trip, considering his lack of supplies and overall experience. However, despite the fact that he was unprepared, McCandless, because of his ideas and motivation for a better world, was justified in shunning society in order to pursue his dream life on the Alaskan frontier.

In his novel, Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer recounts the true tale of Chris McCandless, a recent college graduate who decided against a professional career and instead opted for a life of adventuring and self-reliance. Readers of Into the Wild have shared differing opinions of McCandless. Some view him as passionate, courageous, and admirable while others view him as reckless, arrogant, and “unworthy of the considerable media attention he received.” (Author’s Note) Though McCandless’ courage and steadfast dedication to his beliefs are admirable, I believe that his hubris, naivete, and his inadequate preparation should be the most important points in any discussion of his trips and subsequent death.

Thoreau’s comment at the beginning of the essay, “that government is best which governs least,” is a fairly radical statement. Thoreau is showing that he thinks government is simply a nuisance, so less government would be less of a nuisance. I think that government is a necessary precaution to restrict chaos, however having only as much government as is needed is likely the best approach. In this sense, I agree with Thoreau’s comment, however today’s stereotypes would classify him as an

The desire to be at one with nature sometimes becomes apparent within some of us. Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer highlights the fact that Chris McCandless is a reckless fool and a narcissist due to his carelessness, ignorance, and incompetence.

If in need of money, McCandless found a job. If in need of food, McCandless found something to eat on his own. Selfish men are greedy, however, Chris McCandless embodied love, and compassion and for that he cannot be seen as self-centered. Although McCandless was often reserved, he always shared his plans with other nomads and anyone who was willing to listen. His captivating personality drew people towards him. McCandless’ story caused people to follow their own dreams.

ITW brings us inside the mind of Chris McCandless showing his view on society. At first, McCandless is shown to participate well in college and with his family but as seen in the story, he begins to have no need for society or family. Stated by Carine, Chris’s sister, “He didn’t seem to need toys or friends. He could be alone and entertain himself for hours” (107). Chris didn’t feel the need for people to be close to. He wasn’t anti-social but just believed close relationships were a waste of time. This is the start of a feeling of for non-conformity for civilization and a spark of transcendentalism. Wayne Westerberg, a friend of Chris’ from ITW, when referring to Chris states, “He was hungry to learn about things. Unlike most of us, he was the sort of person who insisted on living out his beliefs” (67). Westerburg noticed how determined Chris was to carry out his plan to escape society. No matter what feelings Chris developed for Wayne he still pushed forth and left Wayne sticking true to his ideals. McCandless noted, “You are wrong if you think joy emanates only principally from human relationships. God has placed it all around us” (47). This quote shows his explanation for not needing human relationships due to his belief in God and surrounding joy in nature. His strong faith is shown here as being close to nature is being close to God.

Henry David Thoreau once said, “live the life you dreamed.” To follow the words of one of his biggest influences, Chris McCandless did exactly that, live his dream. After graduating college, McCandless embarked on an adventure across the United States, living as a rubber tramp to a leather tramp. In May, 1992, he finally set off on the adventure he most desired for, and trekked into the Alaskan wilderness. There, McCandless would live completely off the land away from society, so he could find himself. Just like Thoreau did during his time at Walden Pond. Sharing many of the same ideas and beliefs, McCandless included much of Thoreau’s views into his own philosophy; such as, a rejection towards society, a need to simplify, and a respect towards nature.

To the average person, going off and living off the land is far fetched from the ideal “perfect life” or “American Dream”. To Christopher McCandless, it’s another story, he isn’t the type of person to “stick to the status quo”, he follows the things that he believes could benefit himself. To some people, it may be narcissistic because it’s selfish to only think about what is good for yourself, but to others it could be heroic to have courage to be able to stand out from and break conformity. Chris McCandless, who was well liked and very educated man, left the life that many people desire to have behind and he went off to “live off the land, to survive off of the resources that nature offered he immersed himself in nature to find himself. It takes a lot of courage and guts to go out and “live off the land” with limited supplies but it also takes a lot of skills to do it well, and he underestimated what Mother Nature could do, leading to his death.