Transcendentalism In Into The Wild

Transcendentalism is a philosophical and literary movement that has major themes of nature and spirituality while going against society and materialistic things. Christopher McCandless is a Transcendentalist in every sense of the word. The young adventurer, who is the main character in Jon Krakauer's nonfiction text Into the Wild, travels throughout North America, following three main Transcendentalist ideals: the disconnection of society, a minimalist lifestyle, and a reverence for both God and nature.

“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.”

During these days, we often imagine that if we do not fit into the society, we are left out. The lyrics of “Subdivision” by Rush shows if we do not conform to others, we might be cast out(Sub-division). We often think that having an articulate mind with many thoughts is having a high social status. However, there are certain values in our lives and our beliefs which we should appreciate as the man and nature are all connected which now is a belief referred as the “Transcendentalism”. Although Transcendentalism is a broad topic, the motif following the instincts and living under simplicity drew my attention. Transcendentalism was one of the major turning points of American literary revolutions and can play a huge role in the 21st century of

Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild, describes the adventure of Christopher McCandless, a young man that ventured into the wilderness of Alaska hoping to find himself and the meaning of life. He undergoes his dangerous journey because he was persuade by of writers like Henry D. Thoreau, who believe it is was best to get farther away from the mainstreams of life. McCandless’ wild adventure was supposed to lead him towards personal growth but instead resulted in his death caused by his unpreparedness towards the atrocity nature.

In today’s society, it appears that every week the general public is raving about a new app that was released or some newly created piece of technology. Week in and week out magazines and news sources highlight the newest inventions and and must-have items, encouraging the public to rush for the stores to acquire the new big thing. While such a concept is commonplace in today’s society, there was a time when this idea of materialism was a rarity, and, to a certain extent, frowned upon. American Transcendentalism was a religious and philosophical movement during the 1820s and ‘30s, that emphasized the importance and purity of the individual, and argued that society and its institutions corrupted the purity of every individual. Transcendentalism

Much of the human race live their lives in accordance to what society sees as acceptable, but Christopher McCandless disregards societal norms in the novel Into the Wild. Within the novel, Jon Krakauer explores the story of Christopher McCandless’s journey to Alaska and investigates the events leading up to his death. Krakauer tells the story concerning McCandless’s life in a fashion that reveals a truth about nonconformity. Krakauer sends a message to common readers that nonconformity is not possible and the only way to survive the world we live in is to conform to our surroundings. Jon Krakauer express’s his ideals on nonconformity within Into the Wild through his non-chronological organizational structure, the use of logical reasoning,

“Transcendentalism […] has primarily much the position of the sun […] We are conscious of it as of a kind of splendid confusion […] But the circle of the moon is as clear and unmistakable, as recurrent and inevitable, as the circle of Euclid on a blackboard” (Chesterton, 24). These words encapsulate the driving rationale of the anti-transcendentalist argument – that although individuals seek transcendentalism, they can never truly realize it, or, to compare with the sun, see it. Rather, they inevitably place attention on the “moon,” the perspicuous reflection of transcendentalism – that is, individualism – and neglect the responsibilities of society. Emerson institutes the philosophy of transcendentalism in his essay, Nature, teaching that divinity pervades all nature and humanity. Although transcendentalists would offer that man can only better his spiritual life by embracing individualism, pursuing the ideal, and being one with nature, the ability and appeal of transcendentalism to advance enlightenment upon the soul of the individual rests on the false suppositions that feckless man can achieve perfection and that nature embodies God, thus causing transcendentalism to conversely detriment the spiritual life of the individual, isolating him, prescribing his rebellion, and invigorating his selfish pursuits, simply because he confides his soul in creation instead of the Creator (Tocqueville, 482).

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." Transcendentalist believed in being independent and self-reliant as well as appreciating nature. Transcendentalism occurred in the 1800s in the United States. Transcendentalist believed that one should not rely on others and should rely solely on themselves. They also believe that nature was important in the world and should not be taken for granted. Artist from 2000 up to now share these common beliefs with transcendentalist. One of these artist is Trisha Yearwood who had the song Real Live Woman. Another artist who has a song that follows their beliefs is Lee Ann Womack. Lee Ann Womack has the song I Hope You Dance which also follows along with the beliefs of transcendentalist. Some of the beliefs that transcendentalist had was believing in independence and they also believed in appreciating nature and everything in it for example Lee Ann Womack sings about nature and what happens in it and Trisha Yearwood in one of her songs sings about the importance of being self-reliant and independent she also talks about social reforms and not doing things that is set up by society.

In Into the Wild, McCandless portrays just how important transcendentalism is to him. The first transcendental belief Chris McCandless encounters is simplicity. For example, in Into the Wild, Krakauer says, “Then in a gesture that would have done both Thoreau and Tolstoy proud…- a pathetic stack of fives and ones and twenties – and put a match to it. One hundred twenty-three dollars reduced to ash and smoke.” (Krakauer 29) This shows McCandless wants to live deliberately. He believes so deeply in transcendentalism that he doesn’t need anything from his life before ‘Alaska’. Just him and nature. This relates to Thoreau’s quote from

It is not easy going into the wild by yourself. Leaving everything behind you and only surviving off the land that nature provides for you. The book Into The Wild written by Jon Krakauer tells a story about a boy, by the name of Christopher McCandless, who ventures into the Alaskan wilderness and plans to spend a year out there. I personally do not think that Chris is or was a modern day transcendentalist, nor a transcendentalist at all. He was very much ill prepared for the task at hand. Chris was not educated about the edible vegetation. The one piece of info was a Boy Scout field guide. But yet he was optimistic about the journey.

The authors Emerson, Thoreau, Krakauer, and Donovan all share several transcendental beliefs in their works. Each expressed a different belief throughout the story. However, one belief was shared within all of them. This shared theme is called self-reliance.

Sean Penn’s film ‘Into the Wild’ tracks the journey of Christopher McCandlees as he escapes the oppressing entrapments of the modern world and the grief of his parent’s abusive and apathetic relationship to ultimately find his true being: “The climactic battle to kill the false being within…No longer to be poisoned by civilisation he flees.” The slow motion tracking shots and wind angle vistas of Chris in the wilderness creates a sense of liberation and enlightenment from his entrapments. Ironically, as Chris’ supplies become scarce he discovers that he has become trapped by the wilds harsh and uncaring nature, like the modern world: “Day 100! Made it, but in weakest condition of life…literally become trapped in the wild.” Moments before Chris’

I picked the Transcendentalism Movement because I found it to be very interesting. From all the different literary movements we had to choose from Transcendentalism seemed the most revolutionary. It was an entirely new way of thinking for America back in the 1800’s.

The film Into the Wild, directed by Sean Penn, exemplifies ideas of transcendentalism that relate to the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Both the movie and the different writings depict society as an institution that corrupts an individual and their freedom. In the movie, Chris McCandless sets off on a journey to discover a new life with nature. He then realizes his once privileged life, was a life where he was truly happy. Emerson’s “Self Reliance” describes different parts of society that constrict a person's independence. Thoreau’s “Where I Lived, and What I Lived for” emphasize the use of artificial creations in society and how they contribute to a life of dependence Chris McCandless takes the ideas of Waldo and Thoreau of transcendentalism to the extreme, which eventually leads to his downfall.

A transcendentalism is a philosophical act that took place in the United States of America and developed principally fictitious expression. It is alleged that gen would be achieved by the senses, although through scrutiny and perception of the internal spirit. Popular culture is the fullness of arrogance's philosophies imageries and opinions within the core watercourse of a particular belief which is mostly western.