Chris Mccandless Persuasive Essay

His mother, Billie, wept, “” I just don’t understand why he had to take those kind of chances”” (132, Krakauer) and his father agonized “” How is it, … that a kid with so much compassion could cause his parents so much pain?”” (104, Krakauer). It was extremely selfish to leave his parents thinking he would be back to see them again, but he never did. Besides his family, he also left many people along the road. “He had fled the claustrophobic confines of his family. He’d successfully kept Jan Burres and Wayne Westerburg at arm’s length. And now he’s slipped painlessly out of Ron Franz’s life as well. Painlessly, that is, from McCandless’s perspective…” (55, Krakauer). After being thrown in jail for hopping freight trains McCandless called Ronald Franz to pick him up, which only deepened his affection for the young man. The most selfish thing of all, was the entire reason for his trip. He went for the same reason the author of Into the Wild went as he says, “When I decided to go to Alaska that April, I was a raw youth who mistook passion for insight and acted according to an obscure, gap-ridden logic. I thought climbing the Devils Thumb would fix all that was wrong with my life. In the end, of course, it changed almost nothing” (155, Krakauer). McCandless went on a multiple year road trip through the Western and into the North to find himself but Death got to him

McCandless went into the Alaskan wild carrying only a .22 caliber rifle, a ten pound pack of rice, some necessary tools and utensils and a pair of boots. He underestimated the Alaskan

Throughout the novel, Christopher McCandless’s character changed over time. Up to McCandless’s death, he wanted to live with the wild and to be away from civilization as far as possible. He changes his mind when he writes “HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED” (189). His purpose of living in the wild is to live with freedom and do whatever he wishes to do. However, he realizes he was a “refuge in nature” (189) and intended to abandon his solitary life and rejoin the human community. It is assumed that McCandless died a preventable death because of his unpreparedness, but it is now undeniable that his adversity is what caused his mortality. “…McCandless simple had the misfortune to eat moldy seeds. An innocent mistake, it was nevertheless

“Wilderness appealed to those bored or disgusted with man and his works” (Roderick Nash). Chris McCandless, a modern transcendentalist, sent out on an adventure to find his true self in the wilderness of the North American continent. In the two years he was away, he met many individuals he called his friends and explored the extent of the American West. However, Chris was found dead in an abandoned bus on the Stampede Trail in the deep wilderness of Alaska in early September 1992. Chris believed he could live his life without the disruption of others. Henry David Thoreau believed that individuals can strive for themselves without government interruption. Chris McCandless, in Jon Krakauer’s documentary Into the Wild, believes that living off the land and life to its fullest without help from others compares to Henry David Thoreau’s beliefs in his writing “Civil Disobedience.”

He took the things he needs with him and got rid of the rest. He lasted a hundred days in the wild, it takes at least twenty eight days to break an old habit. He told his friend Jan Burres where he was, and if he didn’t have common sense he wouldn’t do that. “ In September he hitched down U.S Highway 101 California, then headed east into the desert again. And by early October he had landed in Bullhead City, Arizona.” (pg.39) When Callarman says “ He has no common sense he has no business going to Alaska...” McCandless had every right to go to Alaska. He didn’t want his parents to know where he was going, because he was of age and he doesn’t have to everything by his parents. That's why he changed his name. He wanted to start over by going to Alaska and learning new things along the way. You learn from your mistakes, that's what makes us human. McCandless couldn’t live up to his father expectations anymore. He always saw his father as a liar because he was living a double life with another family. Yes, he did have every right to go to Alaska, a person can only take so much. When it get to a certain point, it drive someone to do something they will either regret or a great feeling. He found what he was looking for freedom and happiness. He was a brilliant person, he wrote things in his letters and journals that was really

Not only did Chris McCandless sacrifice so much for the future that he wanted, but he remained focus on his goal and he never ever regretted a minute of it. Even close to his death he was always smiling in the pictures he took and he never looked for a way out. He came into the wild and learned to be one with it. He respected it and learned from it all while staying at his peak of happiness. Chris McCandless’ did not necessarily have a bad life, but it was clear that he was not always happy. When he was truly happiest, he was alone. His disapproval of modern day society is evident throughout the book; “I told him ‘Man, you gotta have money to get along in this world’ but he wouldn’t take it” (46). He realized he needed to be separated from these people and live on his own. He decided to change his course for the future into an isolated lifestyle all without notice to the people that loved him. He was set up for a great life, but he ended it all to follow his dreams and fulfill his purpose. Not

Throughout he was offered multiple opportunities to improve his situation and gear but he refused. Whether it was offers of improved gear from Jim Gallien in Alaska or money and knives at the Slabs McCandless simply couldn’t accept any help from others. The only form of help he somewhat accepted were people offers of rides that would set him on the path of where he needs to go. Others may argue that he was just trying to do it his way and survive within his own means. While this is a valid point his attempt to survive within his own means ultimately cost him his life. As many Alaskan’s pointed out he had entered the wilderness entirely ill-prepared just to survive nearly dying for a bit “does not make you a better human, it makes you damn lucky.”. Others pointed out how he had forgotten the first Boy Scout rule of being prepared (71). If he was able to accept the help of other, especially gear improval, he would almost certainly had a much better chance of surviving his time in the Alaskan

How much should one prepare before venturing into the wild? For Transcendentalists, preparation would likely have been limited to the bare necessities. Transcendentalism was a movement that conquered America during the nineteenth century. A few beliefs from the era were that self-reliance was beneficial, money was a distraction, and truth was found in nature. One person who shared these beliefs at a more recent time in history was Chris McCandless, whose story was described by Jon Krakauer in Into the Wild. McCandless was a young man who traversed America during the early nineties. He had previously attended college and endured the pressure of his parents throughout those years. When he graduated and was finally free, Chris cut off connections with his family and friends, choosing to live a nomadic life on his own. His final journey was into the Alaskan wild; however, it may not have had to be his last adventure. There are a few situations where, if they had unfolded differently, Chris might have survived. Chris McCandless was a fool because he did not tell anyone when he planned to return from his journey, was uneducated about preserving his game, and avoided keeping close relationships.

In a world that’s “endlessly” changing, it’s only logical that those inhabiting it follow the same agenda. In Jon Krakauer’s, “Into the Wild, youngster Chris McCandless is described to have attempted to follow his own advice; the joy of life “comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon” (Krakauer 57). To the extent of seemingly necessary changes, McCandless’s philosophy is accurate.

It is obvious why students at Anaheim are or aren’t successful, they either have what it takes to make it or they do not, students would rather work hard to succeed or they won’t, it is not easy to teach kids to be successful if they are not willing to do whatever it takes to succeed but it is not impossible, Anaheim schools can improve student success if they are willing to make changes for example; students need to spend more time in school, they have to be taught to focus more on effort rather than intelligence or talents and last but not least students should be involved in extracurricular activities as it can be beneficial for the students.

Dreaming about a seemingly unachievable goal is easy, but there are people who persevere no matter the odds to achieve their goal and make their dream come true. President John F. Kennedy and Susan B. Anthony fought against seemingly impossible odds and made their dreams come true for the greater good of humanity. They both overcame all the challenges that were thrown on them, regardless of the difficulty. President John F. Kennedy and Susan B. Anthony likely encountered the most overwhelmingly difficult challenges of their lives and they were both filled with determination to change the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans and people abroad.

When will one reach life's finish line is not an answerable question. Some do not think about the inevitable, but I do. I have wanted my life to end long ago, I have tried unsuccessfully uncountable times to bring my life to an end "She's just seeking attention," I have heard it said. No, wrong, I just did not take enough pills.

It was a. Monday afternoon at Hillsborough Middle School in Hillsborough, NJ. In the lunchroom, you were able to hear hundreds of friends communicating with each other about how their day been. You could see long lines of people trying to get their lunch before the twenty minutes. In the lunchroom, between all mumbling voices, my friend told me she has been having a difficult time trying to study for all the exams she has in the same week. She said she took a quiz in science and got an ok grade, but she was not proud of the outcome. She had ranted to me about all the homework and studying she had to do for multiple subjects in the same week. This made her worry a lot more about her grades because if she didn’t study enough for one of the assignments she would get a poor classification. Nearly every student has the same difficulty with homework, tests, and quizzes which results to students worrying too much about their grades. Even when students take their exams or do their homework there is always something else to be losing sleep over. The question is... are students not putting in effort or “,is there really too much to handle?”

The basic right to own a gun has been a hot controversy among lawmakers in recent years. Many believe making it hard to get a gun or taking them away completely would benefit the average citizen but this is not true. This may slow down the rate that criminals get guns but will not stop them from getting their hands on one. The right to own a gun should not be controlled or taken away because it takes the right of self defense and protection away from citizens, is not proven to lower crime and gun related deaths, and is a basic right in the constitution protected by the second amendment.

Courage and curiosity often lead a man to success. At age seventeen, a young man was driven by a vision to thrive in a foreign country with little money, a big heart and ambition to become the difference in his family. In Mexican culture, the United States is often idolized and “little Benjy,” was raised believing that he had no other option for survival other than earning dollars instead of pesos. Due to poverty, youth and no high status, Benjamin was not eligible for a VISA in the United States. He sold the only valuable possessions he had to be crossed in the Sonoran desert. Twenty four years later, Benjamin is the owner of a construction company, homeowner of a middle class property, owner of 5 vehicles, and a proud father of five. Despite, his illegal status Benjamin is an honorable worker, he pays his taxes, and is currently in the process of becoming a resident.