Analysis Of Into The Wild: Chris Mccandless

Chris McCandless was a very unique individual. In Jon Krakauer’s book, Into the Wild, he tries his best to make sense of McCandless’ journey to the Alaskan wilderness. However, he never really figured out what McCandless’ purpose of the trip was. Looking at McCandless’ life throughout the book, I believe that Chris McCandless went on his journey to find happiness within his own life and did achieve it in the end.

Chris McCandless constructs identity through his actions during his life journey. In April 1992 Chris disappears into Alaska and tries to live in nature without any preparation and when his body is found no one knows who he is (Krakauer 7, 14). This action contributes to his identity because

[5] McCandless viewed society as a crucial part of life, however did not wish to be a part of it. His attitude towards society was the grassroots to why he ventured out on his own in the first place. He was ready to move on to bigger and better things, therefore was willing to take the risks to see what was in store for him. With only the minimum amount of necessities to survive on, he lived on the belief that he was the “master of his own destiny” (23) and could find happiness outside of society. Chris McCandless died a happy man. Even though, tragically cut short, he died fulfilling what made him the happiness. The open road was his sanctuary, and true home. It was the place that his heart felt most at peace and that is a feeling all humans deserve to

Chris McCandless was just a victim of his own obsession. The novel "Into The Wild" written by John Krakauer revealed the life of a young bright man named Chris McCandless who turned up dead in Alaska in summer 1992. In the novel, John Krakauer approached carefully McCandless's life without putting too much authorial judgment to the readers. Although Chris McCandless remained an elusive figure throughout the novel, I can see Chris McCandless as a dreamy young idealist who tries to follow his dream but failed because of his innocent mistake which prove to be fatal and irreversible. Still, Chris McCandless's courage and passion was something that we should all be proud of.

Jon Krakauer, the author of the book, Into the Wild only know about Chris McCandless is an explorer traveling to Alaska search for himself reborn. However he isn’t exactly what he really is, but an ignorant, foolish, selfish, and misunderstanding of the world in which he lives. These words that have been used to describe him are based on the idea that he went on a journey to the Alaskan wilderness to seek his own revelation, but not having a firm grasp of reality, he senselessly died a stubborn man, the people mention that he was unprepared to go into the wilderness, didn’t listen to a more experienced person, broken several of state laws, abandoned his family and loved ones, and followed a dream that never existed. Personally believed he is an ignorant fool, selfish, and misunderstand man that throws his life away for nothing but despair.

Christopher Johnson McCandless is a respectable man in so many ways but, yet such a foolish man in many others. Chris McCandless possessed a seemingly ever-lasting bravery that constantly shined through his unique and matchless character. He was very righteous in himself to the point in which he kept himself from any sin or evil, committing his life to what seemed like an idea of celibacy, not just in refraining from any desire of flesh but also in all lusts of life with his diligent power of will that constantly shined through his exterior. Onto the contrary of his good characteristics, McCandless remained to be very foolish in his decisions and under takings, whether it be by his arrogance of sheer narrow mindedness.

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.

Chris McCandless was a hero to many people throughout his life and he was often considered a hero to most. But, a lot of people criticized his errors along the journey. When Chris died, his impact on society was mostly positive, and the people who he met remembered his accomplishments that he has made in their life. His passing let people remember him for what he has done to help others along the way. His mistakes and flaws added up from the first day he started this path of life. Throughout the story, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer, Chris McCandless is claimed to be a hero by many of the few he met across his journey to Alaska. However, a

McCandless led what many consider a great life for a student. Matthew Power describes Chris as a “...24-year-old honors graduate, star athlete, and beloved brother and son ... cut all ties with his family, gave his trust fund to charity, and embarked on a two-year odyssey that brought him to Alaska... where he could test the limits of his wits and endurance.” Based off of Power’s quote, McCandless seems like he led the best life that he could have led an almost perfect life. He also gives the impression that McCandless did not have an apparent reason to abandon his life and live in the wild. Peter Christian, an Alaska park ranger, brings another idea into view when he says, “The tragedy is that McCandless more than likely was suffering from mental illness and didn't have to end his life the way he did.” He brings another perspective into the mix because he suggests that Chris actually had a mental disease that caused him to feel drawn to the wild rather than his

In what could have been Chris McCandless’s last contact with humanity he tells his new comrade, Wayne Westerberg, “If this adventure proves fatal and you don’t hear from me again I want you to know you are a great man. I now walk into the wild” (Krakauer 3). For 112 days Chris lived off the harsh Alaskan land. For anyone who is brave enough to travel on the stampede trail and cross the treacherous Teklanika River you will come across the Fairbanks City Transit System Bus 142. Once a backcountry shelter for hunters, trappers, ranger patrols, and for a short time Chris McCandless, Bus 142 now serves as a memorial for Chris McCandless. Travelers will make the trip to witness the basic resources Chris had at hand and the courage it took to

I want to understand why Chris McCandless came here, what he was feeling at the culmination of his journey, what he found in the heart of the Alaskan bush. I don’t even bother to hope for answers, but I crave the details; the elk prints and bird songs, the night skies and the way the streams taste and the other fragments of this place that can’t be gleaned from the book or the movie or the online discussion forums. I need to connect with Chris’ story on my own, outside of the Into the Wild painted by Jon Krakauer or Sean Penn or Ron Lamothe.”- {Dave Korn 2011} So many people want to know and see what McCandless went through most of them don’t agree with Shaun Calllarman that Chris “had no business going into Alaska with his romantic silliness.” , Most people saw it very beautiful and crazy going into the wilderness. People now want to leave their life’s to see what Chris saw. Chris isn’t the only that crazy and have the same feeling going into the

Into the Wild the story of a young man who left home and abandoned most of his possessions to travel and go to the wilderness, only to be found dead four months later. The story INTO THE WILD is a nonfiction and a semi autobiography by Jon Krakauer explaining what Chris McCandless did before he was found dead in Alaska. After reading Into The Wild, people may think that Chris McCandless was a person with courage and had a noble character or that he was a stupid idiot that was arrogant. But in reality he was a free spirit that followed his own path that did what he thought was right.

The wilderness is a place full of adventure and mystery. It is a place to feel free and experience new things. Chris McCandless loved all of those things. Chris McCandless (or Alexander Supertramp) is the main character in the novel “Into The Wild” by Jon Krakauer. Krakauer wrote about Chris’ life in the wild. He talks about Chris’ hatred of authority, his relationship with his family, and his journey before going into the wild. Krakauer was inspired with McCandless’s story and believed that he was a smart man who followed his dream and lived a life not many people would be able to handle. I agree with Krakauer's statement about Chris McCandless being a leader and not a follower, he lived the life he wanted and didn’t care what others thought about him.

He craved beauty and excitement, yet he knew somewhere in the back of his mind that finding this could end his life. Yet, that didn’t deter him. McCandless had grown bored of his everyday routine, he wanted to be a part of life, not just live in it. So, he followed his heart to the Alaskan wilderness to break from modern civilization. McCandless left his family behind, donated twenty-five thousand dollars to charity, burned most possessions, left behind his car, a 1982 Datsun B210, and established a new life on his own. All for the sake of finding a form of happiness that came with his immense fascination with nature. Jon Krakauer revealed early on in the book that, “His [Chris’s] yearning [for nature], in a sense, was too powerful to be quenched by human contact.”(66) McCandless craved nature in a way that only be satisfied by fully embrace

Chris McCandless died doing what he loved, but was it worth all of the pain and uncertainty he caused his family? Chris embarked on a journey through the Alaskan wilderness, which resulted in his demise. He cut ties with his family due to personal differences in opinion and travelled all around the country living off of the land for the most part. People have formed many different opinions of Chris McCandless, but its up to you to decide whether his actions were selfish or purposeful. In this Journal, I will be questioning the motives of McCandless, connecting with him, as well as evaluating the author.