How Does Chris Mccandless Escape Reality In Into The Wild

In the book Into the Wild the main character, Chris Mccandless, made a rational decision to exclude himself from human society because he believed that going beyond what his parents, and society wanted, he would live a happier life. Chris wanted to leave society and venture into the wilderness to find the true meaning of who he was. Chris Mccandless was neither crazy or ignorant to live off in the wild where there was no people or anything to interact with, but nature. Chris wanted to find his inner self and not only was he a role model for kids all across the country, but he also followed his dream. Even though it was selfish of him leaving his family, Chris Mccandless was not crazy simply because he

First, Chris’s arrogance and ignorance is showed in his role in society. In chapter 12, when Chris’s college dorm is described, “Bare, spartan room furnished

He succeeded in getting good grades at school but defied the rules his teachers laid out for him. Chris learned guitar, piano, and french-horn as he was growing up. He later became a talented French-horn player, and was a member of the American University Symphony. Chris succeeded in forming a strong bond with his sister, Carine. Carine remembers him as her best friend. He was always there to protect her. Chris did well when he played sports. He never kept up playing them though, because he didn't agree with the rules and techniques. In high school, Chris was the captain of his Cross Country team. He set standards for himself to run his best. If he didn't succeed, he would be disappointed with himself. Chris thought he could do anything, all it required was for him to decide to do it. He once told a friend that they could raise the money to travel to South Africa to fight apartheid. On the weekends, McCandless would stay away from trying to sneak into bars, and instead talk to homeless people and prostitutes. Chris succeeded in trying to improve their lives. During Chris's junior year, he was hired by a building contractor and became a successful salesman. He was a prized

In the quote from Thoreau it says “I sat at a table where were rich food and wine in abundance, an obsequious attendance, but sincerity and truth were not…” (Krakauer 117). This quote lets the reader infer that Chris had been lied to by his parents. Chris found out that his father had had a previous marriage that he was not told about. Chris was denied the truth which led to the non-existent relationship between Chris and his parents.

Behind his selfish ambitions to find himself, Chris had his fair share of family problems that contributed to his decision to go into the wild. Krakauer wrote “Chris’s smoldering anger, it turns out, was fueled by a discovery he’d made two summers earlier… Chris pieced together the facts of his father's previous marriage and subsequent divorce…” he wrote, “Long after falling in love with Billie...Walt continued his relationship with Marcia in secret…” (pg.121) In short Chris knew that his father's previous life had turned into his secret side life, away from Chris and his mother. Chris kept his father secret to himself, never

“…the hypocrisy of his parents’ lifestyle, the tyranny of their conditional love. Eventually, Chris rebelled and when he finally did it was with characteristic immoderation” (64).

Jon Krakauer’s novel, Into the Wild, is telling the story of a young adventurer named Christopher McCandless. His disturbing past led him into the wild away from society. Although, his desire to abandon society led to his death. In Into the Wild , Jon Krakauer characterizes Christopher McCandless as a rebel and wonderlust.

In spite of Chris’s pleasant childhood and a job he loved, he felt as if he was meant to do more for himself and

Throughout children’s lives they struggle with complying with their parents lifestyles. When children reach an age of early adulthood, they start to rebel against their parents’ way of life. The psychological term for this dynamic is called reaction formation ("Into the Wild."). Chris McCandless had this reaction, but much more radical than normal. McCandless developed an abhorrence to his parents lifestyle and goals for him at a reasonably early age. This later intensified as Chris discovered his father's past. Rage turned Chris into a devil’s advocate, and it seems as though he would do anything as long as his father disapproved. The attitude to never bend a knee from his original mindset through every situation was a result of this rebellion.

What seems most hurtful and regrettable is Chris’ resentment towards the parents who did so much for him. Chris spent two years with no contact, and now they will never be able to see him again. His childishness clouded his judgment, and caused him to rewrite history, convincing him that his parents were his enemy when instead, they were supportive and proud of Chris. It was shameful “that a kid with so much compassion could his parents so much pain”(104). His travels seemed to be an escape from his family, and a reactionary revenge against his comfortable life. Something strange was happening to him, he became resentful of the life offered

Chris is a charismatic young man, but takes extensive measures to ensure he does not become too close with anyone. By going out into the wild without so much as a letter to his parents,

It is impossible to fully apprehend what was going through Chris’s mind and how it worked. But we can grasp that his resentment towards his father was deep. He was predetermined to become someone so different from his father because Chris didn’t care for or look up to the kind of person he was. Although he respected how he came up from nothing and made something of himself.

His decisions were influenced through his life at home, his parents were always fighting and him and his sister would constantly take abuse from their father. “ They are just totally beyond hope and there is no way to ever bring them back into reality, over twenty years of lies and meaningless games has reduced them into a state of

He believes mostly in himself and didn't go with the rest of society. Chris believed in individuality and that people should do as they please not what they are told to do by others. When Chris was in high school he was an overachiever and, “only once brought home a grade lower than B.” (Krakauer 109). The reason he received this grade was because of his individuality; Chris believed that the format that his teacher wanted his students to write in was stupid so he did it his way and received and F in that class because of his singularity (Krakauer 109). He values meanings.

Another key similarity between the two protagonists is the refusal to enter the stage of adulthood because of the lack of happiness that one can enjoy in this point of life. Chris’ rejection of adulthood is based on disappointment; Chris believes that he cannot discover the full essence and pleasure of life by entering into a stage of life where freedom is limited, which in this case is adulthood. Chris’ negative impression on adulthood is probably at the cause of the memories of his abusive father fighting his mother; this is portrayed in a disturbing, fast-paced scene in which Chris’ parent’s boiling argument turns into