I am in agreement with Krakauer on the fact that Chris McCandless was not a sociopath
Although many may argue that McCandless past served as primary motivation for his adventure, there is more evidence showing that he had his own differential feelings and has a different act to his everyday decisions that were chosen for himself. Starting off, how Chris McCandless’s childhood life probably had an affect to him to his life choices when he went into the wild. Referring back to documentary how not only did he have spoken about his past, but his siblings did along with his parents about him to how he was and the decisions he made and how it impacted him as to if what he chose to do. He knew that some even his own family would put their own view about himself as being a selfish person because he was just doing what he wanted for
Chris McCandless may first be described as a rebel and his inclination to abstain from the family he was brought up with. Krakauer says that he 'believed that wealth was shameful, corrupting, and inherently evil '. Despite that, Chris always liked money. Chris was also a very independent person who had a strong relationship with nature. Chris was also the kind of kid to always get good grades, without even trying to. I think Chris McCandless felt unfufilled in his life of privilege, and wanted to go out and experience life how he wanted to for awhile, and live freely. Chris may even still be alive today, had he been more prepared.
Despite Krakauer 's honorable attempts to portray Chris as someone who is relatable and should be pitied, Chris is portrayed as careless and inconsiderate. Krakauer 's biased diction end up showing Chris as stupid and egotistical. In the beginning Krakauer starts off make Chris a relatable person however after the first few pages Krakauer turns Chris into a superficial rich entitled person who thought he was able to do anything without repercussion. There are many instances where Krakauer reveals Chris as such. Chris may have been innocent in his ideals but that was his mistake, “For most of the sixteen-week ordeal…McCandless more than held his own.
Chris hated that. He hated the thought of his parents, especially his dad, having had near total control over him. He never showed any signs of it, but by the end of college, Chris McCandless was dying to get away. Throughout the story, Chris showed he had a determination to get to Alaska.
Throughout the novel Chris repeatedly did things that endangered his own well being. Even though it is illegal and even after he got ticketed for doing so, Chris hitchhiked across the country. Chris also burned most of his money along with his birth certificate and assumed a fake name while travelling. When Chriss’ body was found in Alaska, It took quite some time before he could be identified because he had not told his family where he was going and had no identification. Chriss’ lack of responsibility could have been due to his determination and bravery which would have made Chris throw caution to the wind more often than he should have.
I agree with the author that Chris McCandless wasn’t crazy for going out into the wild. He wasn’t a loner; he chose to be on his own. But Chris could easily make friends. He had the right to travel. All he was trying to do was get away from the corrupt world.
Above all Chris McCandless was an arrogant man. He refused many offers of help he got under the ground of that it was cheating. His arrogance led to him taking unnecessary risks which led to him encountering many hapless events. A quote from Into the Wild, his sister Carine said, “ Chris didn’t think twice about risking his own life, but he never would have put Buckley in any kind of danger (Krakauer 128). This really shows that without a person to keep a handle on him, to give him a conscience about what he was putting himself into, he was really the only one credible for his ultimate demise.
Jon Krakauer writes, “McCandless Didn’t conform particularly well to the bush-casualty stereotype. Although he was rash, untutored in the ways of the backcountry, and incautious to the point of foolhardiness, he wasn’t incompetent - he wouldn’t have lasted 113 days if he were. And he wasn’t a nutcase, he wasn’t a sociopath, he wasn’t and outcast. McCandless was something else - although precisely what is hard to say. A pilgrim perhaps.” Chris McCandless was trying to find something out in the wilderness. I believe it was happiness and to let go of his anger with his past. I believe he found these things because he left evidence in his carvings and journals.
Even this, however, does not constitute an ethical transgression on McCandless’ part. If Into the Wild proves anything, it is that McCandless is not suicidal, making any hurt caused by him completely unintentional. Chris spends large parts of his days ensuring that he will have enough food by hunting (164), reads about edible plants before going into the woods so that he will know what to consume (160), and ultimately, leaves a note which asks for help when he realizes he can no longer make it out of on his own (12). He has every intention of coming out of Alaska alive, which means that any emotional harm caused to his relatives is entirely accidental. McCandless never intends to hurt
He made a lot of mistakes based on arrogance. I don’t admire him at all for his courage nor his noble ideas. Really, I think he was just plain crazy,” shows that Shaun believes Chris had no common sense in his doing for leaving society for the wild. I agree with Callarman’s position of thinking “ he had no common sense” and that he was “bright and Ignorant” because Chris thinks he did not have much to offer in his society, ditched all his possessions to take a trip into the Alaskan Wilderness and did not have much common sense or survival skills. Chris McCandless was very courageous for ditching all his possessions to take a trip in the wilderness.
Chris Mccandless separates himself from his father, his sister, and all of society. Mccandless separates himself from his father. Walt Mccandless, Chris’s Father was the easiest one for Chris Mccandless to separate from because Walt Mccandless wanted Chris Mccandless to be normal and like everyone else but
In Fact Chris never gave up on his goal, as noted on Page 75 in the book Krakauer tells us “Chris cheerfully announced that he had “Recast” his goals and next intended to walk around the world living out of his backpack.” Ever since he had everything handed to him, he always wanted to live somewhere where he could find truth. In all honesty, Chris gave people gifts, in the book it says, “Alex insisted on giving Gallien all he had, and that if he didn’t accept it he would throw it away. ”(Krakauer 3) Chris felt that anything that he got from his past life would just be a distraction and he did not really need it. Lastly getting along with people, never giving up on his goal, and giving people gifts are reasons why being faithful kept Chris McCandless going on with his Journey till it led to his
He was a bit selfish, narcissistic, and extremely egotistical. Be that as it may he was searching for a sense of purpose just as most people his age often do. While some may go backpacking through Europe or maybe experiment with illegal substances Chris knew the path he needed to take to find purpose was a nomadic one where a new sunset lay on a different horizon each night. Chris tried to convince others that this was the way to find true meaning in life. He wrote to a friend saying, “Once you have become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning and its incredible beauty.”
He wants to escape his past, leave his family and start something new. His numerous tests of both his physical and mental abilities are proof of his determination. Simplifying and doing what he wants was what he knew he had to do to make the most out of his life. Chris’ relationship with his parents is not good, this was one reason why he went on his journey. He refuses gifts from the family during his graduation which upsets his father.