Examples Of Selfish Chris Mccandless

No individual had the same family background and early experiences in their lives. Each individual also had their own personalities. Chris McCandless was a young and successful college graduate with a job and had money. Oddly, he decided to disappear in response to his father’s misjudgment, giving away his money and overall, became homeless. McCandless could no longer

McCandless’ is an adventurous character with a kind spirit and is portrayed as not only a crazy guy who went into the woods to die, but someone who wanted to make a real difference in the world we live. An example on page 117 in a quote from his mother states, “'Chris didn't understand how people could be possibly be allowed to go hungry, especially in this country,' says Billie. 'He would rave about that kind of thing for hours.'” (Page 117). This quote is detrimental in understanding how Chris viewed our society and shows how he is infuriated at the minimal efforts of the government and other citizens to make a difference in the world. Instead of complaining however, Chris made an effort to give food to the homeless and such by giving out food to the homeless and talking to

The second epigraph included in this chapter was from” Solitude: A Return to the Self” by Anthony Storr. In the paragraph, it explains how people choose live different lives and the various reasons why people might want to live an isolated life, “It is true that many creative people fail to make mature personal relationships, and some are extremely isolated”. McCandless had a rocky relationship with his parents and felt as if his parents never understood what he wanted and judged his choices, “Shortly before he disappeared, Chris complained to Carine that their parents’ behavior was so irrational, so oppressive, disrespectful and insulting that I finally passed my breaking point”. Due to this, he felt that leaving his family and being isolated behind was the only solution to his troubles at home. This led to him to be separated from others and be more dependent on himself. This epigraph connects with

[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

In the book “Into The Wild” the main character Chris was foolish because, he did not know what he was doing, he was reckless, and he was stubborn.

Throughout his life, Chris McCandless always sought out adventure on his own. After graduating college he decided to seek a life worth living. Leaving all of his family and money behind him. Some may argue that Chris McCandless went into the wild because he suffered from a mental illness, but the real reason he left everything was because he wished to find his true self, apart from the materialistic lifestyle that he was raised in. Although it may be true that he was a bit off to live so selfishly and not pay any mind to others, people should consider the many relationships he maintained along his journey because it shows a lot about his true character.

In the brighter spectrum of Mr. Chris McCandless, is his deep and intellectual personality, shining through on most every occasion with cynical value or an interesting opinion every now and then. In Chris’s deep scholarly thought he decides to give up many things for his own self righteousness in attemp to make himself free of any evil or distraction as well as anything that may hold him down. As a younger boy in high school he proved his good Samaritan self by spending weekends taking to the the streets, spending nights with prostitutes, the homeless, and the addicts, feeding them and experiencing a little of what they felt. As I mentioned before he gave up what he thought would ruin his dreams and soil his life, he rid his life of luxury and wealth along with long-term relationships with people. As one of the things that he had apparently given up was the desire of sex and all of it’s evils, and proclaimed that his need was much to great for something so petty. Truly I believe traveling as a child with his family engineered a mind set within Chris that made him feel as if familiarity was just a weight holding him down from the flight toward his dreams. He also thought that being lost in such a superficial and trivial society could help no one

Once you become a certain age most kids tend to get a job so they can start paying for things on their own. Once Chris got a job, he wanted nothing from his parents. He didn’t want them thinking that he needed their help in anyway shape or form. You also become independent once you get a job too, which is exactly how Chris was. For example, in Into The Wild, page 64, states “Given Walt’s need to exert control and Chris’s extravagantly independent nature, polarization was inevitable.” Which goes to show the strain they had on their relationship.

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

Although he knew what Walt had done to Marcia and still had two children with Billie it was unforgivable. He had that feeling of guilt and he was not to let Walt acknowledge the newly information Chris had discovered in California. Instead he was to rebel and to slowly disclude himself from the family that he felt ashamed of. Truth is what young McCandless was greatly affected of the news that his father had given him about Walt’s first wife. In a way it seemed that Mr. McCandless had lost himself and that is what influenced the ideas of his pursuit of happiness was only capable in the wild where you come to the truth. It’s like a test it shows you the true meaning of surviving this dog eat dog world, it is where it tests your faith, your strength (physically and mentally), and your will to have an open mind. That is what Mr. McCandless craved the purity of the bonds between individuals but he was disgusted of the wrong his father’s doing. That is what caused his reactions of the need of finding some type or form of purity and true beauty. Yes Mr. McCandless had the money, had the education, and had his future set, but to him none of that mattered, that credibility of loyalty played a major factor on the decision he made to have no further communications with his parents, the truth is the purpose of all Mr. McCandless’s choices and

When he left his family and friends behind without informing them as to where he would be, they later found out that their beloved one had passed. When Chris left, his mother suffered terrible pain by the thought that she heard “… ‘Chris calling me,’ she insists, ears rolling down her cheeks…He was begging, ‘Mom! Help Me!’ But I couldn’t help him because I didn’t know where he was (Krakauer 126).” In this tragic portray of events, his parents suffered terribly because he was not considerate enough to inform them of his whereabouts and intentions. Since his mother, a strong woman who dealt with awful dealing with Chris’s father, he could have at least enlightened her with his well-being with a letter to her and his whereabouts. Also, when he abandoned his family, he abandoned little sister, he left her hurt even after “Ten months after Chris’s death, Carine still grieves deeply for her brother. ‘I can’t seem to get through a day without crying…’ (Krakauer 129).” Carine was the person McCandless was closest to in his family. When he vacated her, and left her clueless as he did everybody else, he left the person who loves him most behind in the dark. McCandless left the people who cares for him behind, hurt and filled with sorrow because he wanted to fill his own selfish

Starting off with the idea and question of ‘’Do we owe our families anything?’’ In some cases yes. When you grow up with the same or at least similar mind set as your parents, it is not difficult to stick around and respect them after they raise you. However ,in McCandless’s case, we see that he is nothing similar to his parents. They are materialistic which is a direct offence to what McCandless believes. His mother Billie McCandless say, “Chris was very much of the school that you should own nothing except what you could carry on your back at a dead run.” This clearly illustrates what his opinions were on materialism.

By practicing nonconformity, Chris made it impossible to have a good relationship with his father. Chris cleary demonstrates this hatred for his father in the letter he wrote to his sister ; “I’m going to completely knock them out of my life. I’m going to divorce them as my parents once and for all and never speak to those idiots again as long as I live. I’ll be through with them once and for all, forever.” (chapter 12)

This is one reason why he decided to leave home; he wanted to experience the life of not having anything to his name, this is also shown through out the book during his journeys, however this not the only reason why he left home. The ultimate reason why he left home was because of what his father had done. A cab driver name Stuckey whom helped McCandless reach Alaska elaborated that McCandless said that he found out that his father was living a bigamist life and that it went against Chris’s beliefs (159). This was ultimately one of the reasons why Chris left home and had no feelings towards his parents. This exhibits the hatred and no remorseful attitude McCandless had through out the book towards his parents, especially his father. However, this attitude towards his father and civilization is justified completely when he decided to leave home and take on the wilderness.

It has been very perplexing reading this novel and trying to truly understand the motives one would have to have to make the decisions McCandless made. I am questioning Chris’ motives for cutting ties with his family and travelling all around the country. I think that he truly had a deep love and spiritual connection with nature. It began as a young child when Walt McCandless (Chris’ father) took Chris on many excursions in the outdoors, such as hiking in the mountains. Chris immediately fell in love with nature and all of the pleasures it had to offer. Also, Chris was motivated by his withering relationship with his family. Early in his life his parents worked tirelessly and it was difficult for Chris to spend time and build a solid relationship with them. Throughout his young life he had disagreed with his parents about many aspects of life. It was said that he