Epigraph for English

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer introduces several themes - including the relationships experienced between family members - using epigraphs. One of the many themes is presented in the quote: “For children are innocent and love justice, while most of us are wicked and naturally prefer mercy.” This epigraph delves into themes of both right and wrong and relationships between younger and older generations. This epigraph especially caught my eye as it was the only one whose meaning I did not agree with. I believe children have a false sense of justice and do not understand it while people of more experience thirst for justice in everything they do. The epigraph seems to set you up to oppose the authority in the chapter (in this case the parents)

The epigraph in The Fault in Our Stars by John Green explains the theme of time, time goes by fast so do not waste it, and the situation the main character is in. The main characters, Hazel and Augustus, both have cancer, and they know they do not have too much time left for both of them. They constantly talk about infinities and how everyone's infinities are different. Augustus tells Hazel that he is afraid of oblivion, but she responds by saying, "There will come a time...when all of us are dead.... There is time before organisms experienced consciousness, and there will be a time after. And if the inevitability of human oblivion worries you, I encourage you to ignore it..." (Green 12-13). Hazel wants to live life to the fullest without worry

The Importance of Epigraphs In Into the Wild In order to escape the restrictions of society, people seek adventure and thrills that provide excitement and freedom in their life. The exhilaration of doing something new and exciting is an experience everyone wants to have. To live a life of freedom and excitement, Chris McCandless, a well educated young man, left his old life behind. He gave up all of his belongings, created a new identity for himself, and made important friendships along the way.

“I want to apologize about the last time we got up. I don’t know what got into me. I just care about you a lot.”

Albert Einstein once said “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” The epigrams in chapter three of the biography, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer, illustrates Chris McCandless's desire to escape his modern, calm life and explore the unknown to find himself and be reenergized through nature. The two epigrams, “Family Happiness” by Leo Tolstoy and The American West as Living Space by Wallace Stegner describe these traits found in Chris McCandless through his desires and reasoning for leaving society behind. Tolstoy, in his epigram, demonstrates the desire to move away from a peaceful life to find adventure and thrills not found in the normal world. Similarly, Stegner states that the urge to escape our daily lives

"Sorry about that back there, I just needed to do that so I could get rid of Allison. And it wouldn't be to good for my rep now would it." He laughs while awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.

Chris faced difficult and emotionally damaging challenges with his family dynamic growing up and wrote that he felt the most comfortable when his family took camping trips in nature. Chris’s father, Walt, was angry very often and used to make Chris and his sister, Carine, watch him beat their mom, Billy. Chris’s relationship with his sister was the only valuable and authentic relationship he had in his life. The epigraph in chapter seven of “Into The Wild” is the most important epigraph in the book because it provides a brief, yet accurate representation of Chris McCandless’s drive behind leaving his old life in society and pursuing a new life in the wild.

"It wasn't your fault. You had no clue, I should have told you from the start. Also I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable about the whole love question."

“I also know I haven't um been very nice to you so i'm sorry for that too”

“You look… what happened…?” He shakes his head as if to clear his vision, then anger and drunkenness settle back in.

“Yeah? If you were really sorry, then maybe you wouldn’t do that every time I have to come in here, now would you?”

She couldn't do this to herself anymore. This was the last time, she knew it. Not just because she wanted to end things but because she could see it written all across his face. He was finally ending things as well. "I know." he started, his words soft and sad. "I love you, Coby and I always will but I am about to have a family. " Now he looked away from her. She merely nodded but stayed absolutely silent. "Things could have been different but.." he cut himself off but she knew what he meant, if she would have said yes to his proposal. She mentally kicked herself, she should have just married her and it would their children he called family. In that moment she felt so many emotions that she knew she was about to break, she needed to get out of there before she began crying. "We need to be strictly professional for now on." he finally said after a moment, braking the silence that filled the cruiser. "I know" she replied but she could hear her own voice break. She needed to get out of there right now and so for the last time, she leaned across the cruiser and places a kiss on his cheek. "I love you, too." She said before slipping out of the car, leaving him sitting

“Sorry, what were you saying?” I ask innocently, just before she threw the bottle, hitting

comfortable with the ladies she revealed that side of her. When she felt accepted by the ladies,

“Your drunk aren’t you. You went out to go get beer and get drunk. You didn’t even get supplies did you? You don’t even care about us!” I yelled into her face, smelling the disgusting alcohol on her breathe.