Risks are a possibility of loss or injury; all humans at least once in their lifetime have to do something risky. If life has no risks, you’re not really living it, since we humans do not grow as a species (or society) if there is no challenge in life. People in this world must have challenge and struggle to overcome an obstacle in their life to discover the real world. This way a person will grow physically and most importantly, mentally, to never do something adventurous or take the easy way out is on them. Krakauer, Emerson and Thoreau all have their own ideas on risk, but they all have in common is that risk can change a person for the good or bad. Henry David Thoreau was a philosopher and scholar who took great inspiration from Ralph …show more content…
The reader gets to join McCandless in his adventure across the country as he invents a new life for himself. He embraces the ideas and morals of Thoreau and Emerson in his journey. In the book, a man by the man by the name of Westerberg discusses about how McCandless is not destroying his possessions and journey around the wild because the wild he is suicidal or unintelligent. “You could tell right away that Alex was intelligent…He always had to know the absolute right answer before he could go on to the next thing.” (Krakauer 18). McCandless shows that the expedition was self-discovery, to take a risk to improve his own life. Throughout his journey, McCandless lies in harsh environments as well as having several ways and chances to get home, but he does not take them. Many would try to say that risky lifestyles are dangerous and best to take the easiest approach especially since Chris dies in Alaska in his journey. Proving that risk can take your life or loved ones, but that is why it is important to do risky choices in life since it pays back in the long run. The last thing Chris wrote was, “I have had a happy life and thank the Lord. Goodbye and May God bless all!” (Krakauer 199). Showing that Chris may have suffered on his journey, he would not take it back, he was glad he took the risk. With the statement on how he had grown in his journey and was happy to do
Each man had his own goals and purpose for taking upon himself that certain project to accomplish. The purpose of McCandless's journey was he wanted to make it to Alaska without taking anything from anyone. Chris wanted to live off the land and not take short cuts by flying places or in his words anything that was considered “cheating.” Krakauer stated, “Chris McCandless intended to invent a new life for himself, one which he would be free to wallow in unfiltered experience. ”(4)
Chris McCandless exhibits many transcendental keys throughout this book. One that really stood out was in chapter 13. The book describes the time that McCandless's family was given back all of his possessions because it showed how McCandless had reduced his dependence on property altogether. Despite making a voyage to Alaska, one of the last frontiers on earth, Chris McCandless brought little more than the clothes on his back. This is easily related to “Walden”, because Thoreau behaves the same way as he goes to live by himself in the wild with very little belongings.
In Into The wild, Krakauer narrates the last couple of journeys Mccandless had on his adventure to Alaska where he ultimately died. Mccandless Touched many people's lives through all of his journeys. Mccandless went on these journeys because he was confused in life when he figured out his dad had cheated on his mom. This changed Mccandless to the point he began to hate his parents. Mccandless had a lot of confidence in himself so he left on an adventure to find his identity.
“To symbolize the complete severance from his previous life, he even adopted a new name. … He was now Alexander Supertramp, master of his own destiny” (Krakauer). As early as the first few chapters of Into the Wild, the reader can already see the distinguishable features of a rebel. Not only does Chris McCandless possess rebellious qualities, but he admired writers like Jack London, Leo Tolstoy, and Henry David Thoreau, all of whom possessed the same rebellious attitude.
In the novel Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer he tells a story about a young mans life on the road. During Chris McCandless’s trip he comes across some difficulties that make his journey tough. Although some people may think life on the road is easier and a better thing to do it’s not always for everyone. Living life on the road is a big change and a different environment that you have to adapt to, however Chris McCandless was able to adapt to this lifestyle with the help of his journal and knowledge. While Chris was on the road he experienced some risks and discomforts such as him not bringing enough food with him, he only had a bag of rice.
Everyone sets their goals at different expectations than others which is why you typically don’t go for the same goal as other people. The adventure that McCandless went on was dangerous, but it fit his expectation to be independent and to find where he belongs. McCandless valued self-reliance ,he needed to be his own person, with his own vision and way of thinking so that others wouldnt influence him along the way. He recognized that the only way for him to find his own truth would to be self-centered and focus on his own being first, without others clouding his sense of
Into the Wild tells the story of Chris McCandless, a young man who embarked on an adventure across the U.S. Chris lived for adventure, and sadly met his demise in the Alaskan wilderness. Chris’ death brought about a large debate as to whether Chris was insane or simply idealistic. Krakauer wrote Into the Wild to prove Chris’ sanity and soundly completes that task by using rhetorical devices to persuade his audience. Throughout the book, Krakauer uses ethos to develop Chris’ credibility by providing examples of people who are similar to him. For example, Krakauer provides multiple examples of people who were very similar to Chris, such as Everett Ruess.
According to dictionary.com, the word risk is defined as, a situation involving an exposure to danger, an injury, or a lost of something or someone. In Among The Hidden a novel by Margaret Peterson Haddix, readers meet Luke, the main character that is forbidden by a population law. The readers will find that Luke takes hazardous risks and bold actions that change his life by gaining new friends and freedom. According to the novel, risks are worth it because one risks help people build relationships, and two risks help people with making others happy and joyful.
Although there are varied opinions on Chris McCandless, we may never get to know the full truth. He was a young man straight out of college who decided to drop everything he had to live a life on the road that would eventually lead him to the Alaskan wilderness. Many say he was reckless and naïve, while others applaud him for the journey he took, showing his bravery and courage. Much like Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild, I agree with the latter group. However, I don't think what he did was one-hundred percent responsible, instead I respect his vision to find himself and to get out.
Chris decided to cut off all connections not out of selfishness, but because of his burning desire to experience life in its simplest beauty. Moreover, he was not the only one who set out on a journey like this—others with stories similar to that of Chris’ help explain the true
However, Jon Krakauer proves his argument that McCandless was not arrogant, foolish, antisocial, or crazy by giving examples of other young men who were similar to McCandless to show that his journey wasn’t unprecedented. He also proves that McCandless wasn’t antisocial because he developed personal relationships with Ronald Franz, Wayne Westerberg, and Jan Burres in such a short amount of time and explaining the many times that McCandless respected the Alaskan Bush. Krakauer admits that McCandless may have suffered from hubris; he was still a victim of circumstances. Krakauer proves that McCandless had an intrinsic motivation to discover and that he wasn’t alone because Krakauer too ventured into the Alaskan Bush when he was younger. The Alaskan Bush is a very difficult place to survive if one isn’t prepared for many challenges such as hunting for food or staying warm in the frost ridden
What happened instead was that McCandless died at an early age, whilst Krakauer barely made it to tell the tale; proving nothing of value came from their journeys. While life on the road can offer solace to individuals who have struggled in their lives, it is unfathomable to think that the wilderness will offer them any embrace to their ambitions; therefore it should not be pursued as it leads to family issues and ignorant behavior. Life on the road can provide one with a sense of independence from the confines of society. For example, Chris McCandless decided to escape the societal
What really drove Chris McCandless into the wild? I believe the top three of the countless reasons that drove McCandless into the wild was the emotional damage from his parents, rebellion of the youth & risk taking tendencies, and his hubris and detestation against authority and/or someone telling him what to do. Some may believe that Chris McCandless went into the wild because of his literary heroes Leo Tolstoy, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau , and Jack London but the real reason he left everything was because of those reasons. In this essay I will elaborate on why I believe those are the reasons that drove McCandless into the wild.
Chris McCandless abandoned the modern world and chose the wild because he believed that he could improve himself through living in the wild, and found the true happiness of the life. McCandless abandoned his wealthy family because of his complicated relationship with his father, and he was ashamed with his father’s adultery. Therefore, McCandless believed that human relationship was not the only thing that forms happiness, instead a man’s connection with the nature brings joy as well. He also believed the habitual lifestyle was not what people were meant to do, and people shouldn't have more possessions than what they need. For this reason, McCandless traveled with little effects.
Christopher McCandless, the protagonist of the novel and film Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer, is not your average guy. Driven by his minimalist ideals and hate for society, he challenged the status quo and embarked on a journey that eventually lead to his unforeseen demise. A tragic hero, defined by esteemed writer, Arthur Miller, is a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on tragedy. Christopher McCandless fulfills the role of Miller’s tragic hero due to the fact that his tragic flaw of minimalism and aversion towards society had lead him to his death.