In the book Into the Wild, Krakauer uses multiple allusions to portray all elements of independence to deepen his interpretation of what it means to be free. During the provided sections of the novel, Krakauer relates the story of Chris Mccandless to those of many other adventurers’. This is done in order to explore Chris’ personality and understand his motivations for venturing in the wild. Krakauer is using many allusions, this is a reference to a historic or literary person, place or thing. He uses an allusion in order to strengthen the understanding of freedom. This is shown through his connection to Everett Ruess, John Waterman, and many more adventurous figures. Krakauer mentions, “And like McCandless, upon embarking on his terminal
This quote is prominent due to the fact that it coincides with Chris McCandless’s beliefs throughout the whole novel. Krakauer included this quote to give readers a sort of insight as to why McCandless desired to go into the wilderness. I can relate to this passage because I have an aspiration to travel the world and have exciting experiences, like McCandless. I suspect that most people obtain the yearning to have a thrilling adventure. Also, this epigraph relates to how Chris has the same yearning. In the following chapter the reader sees that even though McCandless had gotten a job and a cheap room, he did not stay for long. No matter where he went, what people he met, or where he was staying, McCandless continued to move. Additionally,
In those chapter’s krakauer tells us about his own adventure in the wild when we went to Alaska to climb “Devil’s Thumb”. Here, he talks about himself. I think he wanted to color in more of the picture he's painted of McCandless thus far; he was not only a wanderer, but he felt propelled due to his relationship with his father. Krakauer, like McCandless, went out on daring escapades in which his life was in danger (he fell through an 'ice bridge' once and nearly dropped into the ravine below!). Krakauer points out that McCandless was not "crazy" as some people had dubbed him, and he uses himself and several other "extreme" adventurers to make his point.
First, and the most noticeable, is Krakauer’s use of narration. The main purpose for writing this book was to tell the full truth of McCandless’ journey and in parallel, clear his reputation of a irrational young man. Krakauer wanted to show the reader that McCandless was not an arrogant kid that had outrageous ambitions to trek through Alaska, and one way he did this was by emphasizing McCandless’ intelligence through the use of narration by friends and family members. “Alex was Big on the Classics: Dickens, H.G. Wells, Mark Twain, Jack London. London was his favorite. He’d try to convince
Just like Krakauer, McCandless had a calling for adventure. He could relate to McCandless , because he had a similar adventure to Alaska. Krakauer didn’t view McCandless as a incompetent person like most ,but a unique
When composing the novel “Into The Wild’, Jon Krakauer used his writing strategies and patterns to not only instill certain themes, but also appealing to the audiences sense of, ethics, logistics, and emotions. These are otherwise known as Ethos, Logos, and Pathos. Now these strategies are Jon Krakauer’s way of developing the major themes of the story through the ideas of ethical appeal, logical appeal, and emotional appeal.
Krakauer’s timeline allows him to influence the reader by showing specific things about McCandless at certain times to make him appear noble and inspirational. He also uses specific quotes from McCandless that accurately gives insight into McCandless’s thought
Author V.S. Naipaul once said, “What I felt was, if you spend your life just writing fiction, you are going to falsify your material. I thought nonfiction gave one a chance to explore the world, the other world, the world that one didn’t know fully.” John Krakauer’s Into the Wild is a biography that covers a man’s attempt to live life off the grid and stray from the societal norms of mid nineties America in order to achieve enlightenment. Throughout the story, the readers follow Chris McCandless as he travels across the country, discovers new locations, and encounters new experiences in search of happiness, peace, and solitude. As the reader approaches the middle of the story, they realize an important relationship beginning to manifest between
Krakauer begins his tale of his own adventure by restating the conclusion of Chris’s journey and outlines the opposing viewpoint to his own: “When the adventure did indeed prove fatal, this melodramatic declaration fueled considerable speculation that the boy had been bent on suicide from the beginning, that when he walked into the bush, he had no intention of ever walking out again” (134). Krakauer restates the demise of Chris in an attempt to establish the justification for adding his story, by reiterating McCandless’s fate at the beginning of the twin chapters detailing the author’s own adventure, Krakauer establishes a base from which he can contrast his decisions and experiences with those of Chris. Krakauer then goes on to liken himself to Chris, who earlier in the book is established as a voracious reader, by providing a list of authors that served as influences to him: “My reasoning, if one can call it that, was inflamed by the scattershot passions of youth and a literary diet overly rich in the works of Nietzsche, Kerouac, and John Menlove Edwards…” (135). Almost immediately after reminding his readers of the unfortunate demise of Christopher McCandless, Krakauer establishes himself as a youth not dissimilar to Chris. It is the immediate portrayal of
After creating a suspenseful atmosphere in one paragraph, Krakauer will bring back his laid back persona, making sarcastic jokes about how “a hitchhiker with a Remington semiautomatic isn’t the sort of thing that gives motorists pause in the forty-ninth state” (4). With its cordial feel, Krakauer’s diction makes readers feel as though they were good friends with McCandless while he was alive. Chris’s decisions, morals, and values can seem quite enigmatic to those who do not truly understand what McCandless was looking for in life, but Krakauer makes sure his audience is well aware that McCandless yearned for “excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice [himself] for [his] love” (15). Knowing the boy’s qualities and ambitions in life helps readers feel more connected to Krakauer’s writing; it makes the audience eager to learn more about McCandless’s
Krakauer further explores McCandless’s personality with the use of diction, showing that Chris had always been different from others. For instance, he writes “The only way he cared to tackle a challenge was head-on, right now, applying the full brunt of his extraordinary energy. And he was often frustrated as a consequence” (Krakauer 111). This quote furthers the idea that Chris had a very nontraditional mindset. When using words like “head-on” and “extraordinary energy,” Krakauer portrays Chris’s brave and direct approach to challenges, because he had no fear of “tackling a challenge head-on.”
Krakauer's rather informal yet factual tone enables him to relay the important details of McCandless's adventure while keeping the readers engaged in the story. Krakauer frequently inserts his own thoughts into the story, but his
Although Chris McCandless’ controlling and toxic family environment was a major motive for his escape, his deep-seated internal battle was simply an irresistible impulse for discovery and liberty. Chris’ journey shows a new level of freedom; what true independence holds. He set out into nature alone without support of family or friends, searching for a path unlike those of most, and running from a barred cage of conventional living. Unsatisfied and somewhat angry with himself and his life of abundance in money, opportunity, and security, his preceding experiences and determined character lead him to an inevitable flee into no-mans land. Throughout the novel, Krakauer wants the reader to understand that there is more to Chris than his habit of criticising authority and defying society’s pressures. He needed more from himself, and more from life. He wasn’t an ordinary man, therefore could not live with an ordinary life. Krakauer demonstrates this by creating a complex persona for Chris that draws you in from the beginning.
In my opinion I believe the authors main point in this essay was to vindicate anything that Chris McCandless did in his life. When reading I could definitely sense Krakauers natural liking for McCandless. He was sympathetic to McCandless, based on Krakauers sense of a shared experience in their youth and up until McCandless eventual death and Krakauers perceived near death experience on the Devils Thumb.
The author skillfully uses literary techniques to convey his purpose of giving life to a man on an extraordinary path that led to his eventual demise and truthfully telling the somber story of Christopher McCandless. Krakauer enhances the story by using irony to establish Chris’s unique personality. The author also uses Characterization the give details about Chris’s lifestyle and his choices that affect his journey. Another literary element Krakauer uses is theme. The many themes in the story attract a diverse audience. Krakauer’s telling is world famous for being the truest, and most heart-felt account of Christopher McCandless’s life. The use of literary techniques including irony, characterization and theme help convey the authors
Proclaiming this, Krakauer means after one experiences something so great they learn and are shaped by the change they had. As one goes on in life they change, just like Chris is when he went to into the wild. As the book goes on it avers, “The fullest sense of the word, an epic journey would change everything” (Krakauer22). Displaying that Krakauer is referring to McCandless’ trip. How one thing could change someone so much. The honesty of nature shaped McCandless as he was on this adventure. It showed him how good life can be.