The past experiences of the main character, Chris McCandless, had an extraordinary effect on his life and the gradual end he met in Fairbanks bus 142. Between Chris and his father, Walt, there was a lot of tension. Chris had always been livid towards his father for his actions that put a massive strain on the whole family. Ever since that tragic event occurred, Chris’s childhood was never the same. This event influenced his personality, similar to how his early exposure to the wild also impacted him. The McCandless family often went on vacations from the shores of the eastern coast line, to the vast mountains of Colorado; here, Chris discovered his passion for the wild. If Chris were to experience different events in his past, the novel “Into the Wild”, may never …show more content…
In the summer between his sophomore and junior years at Emory University, Chris learned from family members settled in El Segundo, California, that Walt cheated on his mother, named Billie. Walt began his affair with his ex-wife named Marcia after Chris was born, dividing his time between two families, two divergent lifestyles. Krakauer writes, “He later declared to Carnie and others that the deception committed by Walt and Billie made his ‘entire childhood seem like a fiction’”(84). Chris exploited his anger with silence and and withdrawal from his parents. An example of this behavior is when Chris traveled solo to Fairbanks, Alaska for the summer of 1989 and only sent his family a total of two cards with substantially vague descriptions of his journeys on each. Chris’s apartment in Atlanta was vacated and his odyssey was in progress, he was finally free from the influence of others. Krakauer writes, “At long last he was unencumbered, emancipated from the stifling world of his parents and peers”(18). Walt’s affair with Maria played a role in why Chris left society to live on his own terms,
“Actions speak louder than words” is a centuries-old idea that, in recent times, has been famously said by both Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain, and I think this idea should be the core of any look into the life and actions of Chris McCandless. However, I believe that this idea was hardly considered in Jon Krakauer’s interpretation of Chris McCandless in his book Into The Wild. Into The Wild is taken by many as the complete truth of Chris McCandless’ story, but many people seem to forget that Krakauer tells us in his author’s note at the beginning of the book that “[he] won’t claim to be an impartial biographer.” This means that any judgment of Chris that only uses this book is inherently flawed by Krakauer’s own views.
In some ways, Chris McCandless of Krakauer’s Into the Wild, acts as the epitome of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s ideals within his essay “Self-Reliance.” McCandless, who has grown into quite a celebrity, abandoned his family’s bourgeois values and sought to discover the terrain of his soul through an Alaskan Odyssey. Only months later, a moose hunter stumbled upon his corpse within a bus. Critics often chalk his death up as a warning to young adolescents looking for adventure, while the aforementioned adolescents idolize his journey. Despite the harsh denunciations and hero-worship, McCandless acted simply as his own person by disregarding society’s views and looking for his own thoughts in solitude, thus embodying Emerson’s “Self-Reliance.”
In a way Chris Mccandless became a casualty to his own passion and obsession. “Into the Wild” is a book written by John Krakauer about a man who went from being a graduate at Emory University to fulfilling a drive and need of living as one with the wild. Mccandless had more courage than many people and he was willing to give up anything and walk away. Chris was a man seeking adventure, filled with confidence and a dream. It seems that he lived with one mindset that nothing could stop him and he was going to prove that; he hitch hiked his way through America to reach a point of personal fulfillment.
The Stampede Trail is a beautiful expanse of land surrounded by lush forests and the creatures native to them. Following this path, one comes across a gurgling river and beyond that an expanse of land where a bus is located. This bus has been here for ages and serves as a resting place for hunters or hikers. In this serene picture, though, a young man tragically met his demise whilst on a journey of self-discovery. This man was Christopher McCandless, an enigmatic 24-year-old who gave up all he ever knew for a life of wandering.
Christopher McCandless was a recent college graduate who decided to abandon the entirety of his past life and restart with a nomadic, self-sufficient lifestyle in Alaska's wilderness. On Tuesday, April 28, 1992, McCandless entered the wild, ceasing all forms of human interaction; this was the last time he was seen alive. Jon Karkauer's, Into The Wild, combines the findings of his passionate, in-depth investigation using firsthand information extracted from McCandless's personal journal, letters, and interviews with his family members in order to tell the story of McCandless' adventure across the country that eventually ended his life. Additionally, using longform journalism, Karkauer explores the motivations behind McCandless's decision; in
Exploring the United States of America and the nature of it has been a dream to the many adventure seekers throughout the world. Long adventures like this create long-lasting memories and friendships with Mother Nature and the society around it. Chris Mccandless, a newly college graduate, gives up everything including his Family and possessions to fulfill his dream to travel the west and live in the wild of Alaska. Throughout his long journey he creates many strong relationships with the many people he met hitchhiking his way to Alaska. His ultimate goal was to survive in the wild of Alaska with as little supplies needed and without contact to any human being.
Many criticizers of Chris McCandless believe that he was so naive and ill-prepared for his adventure to Alaska that it was what ended up costing him his life in the end. Some would disagree with that opinion and say he was courageous and admired that he followed his dreams and ambitions. In the author’s note of “Into The Wild” Jon Krakauer states, “Some readers admired the boy immensely for his courage and noble ideals; others fulminated that he was a reckless idiot, a wacko, a narcissist who perished out of arrogance and stupidity” (Authors Note). In my opinion, McCandless was prepared for this adventure, knew what risks he was going to face, and therefore wasn’t naive about his journey.
Chris McCandless was a man who was unhappy with the society he lived in. He hated when his parents bought him expensive things, like cars, when there were people in the world that can't afford to feed themselves. He also dealt with that fact that his father was having children with his old wife when he was married to another woman, which greatly upset Chris’s opinion of his father. Another person who was upset with the society he lived in was William Wallace.
Christopher McCandless left presuming to leave his old life behind, change his name, make a new life for himself and live off the wild. Chris gave everything he owned away, leaving himself with nothing but a dream to go to Alaska. His remembrance of his past has left him with a deep feeling of being unwanted by his parents past and present. From his parents arguing about little things to going on his first road trip to where he grew up in California and learning about how his dad was cheating with his mom and had a son with his other wife, it really disturbed him giving him very mixed feelings. This ultimately lead to him wanting a new life away from his past.
Chris attended Emory university in Atlanta he graduated in June 1990 with honors. His parents thought chris was interested to go in law school instead he donates $25,000 savings to charity and is where he begins his adventure by getting rid of everything changing his name to Alex putting his money on fire and all important documents. He went on a long journey that later on he would end up in Alaska. Christopher McCandless was a reckless narcissist
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at stars An Examination of Chris McCandless as an Admirable Individual Through Ronald Franz The novel Into the Wild written by Jon Krakauer follows the story of Chris McCandless, a young man who headed out into the Alaskan wilderness and met his untimely demise. Chris’ story surfaces a controversial topic, being whether Chris is admirable or reckless for attempting to complete this feat. People who met and listen to Chris’ ideology would not agree that he was a lunatic; rather they would presume that Chris McCandless was courageous for living in a way that was so ill considered. Chris discovered his own lifestyle and inspired people to follow his footsteps and discard their materialistic
Chris’s parents had fed him so many big lies throughout his whole childhood,” When Walt’s double life came to light, the revelations inflicted deep wounds. All parties suffered terribly” (121). Walt, Chris’s father, had continued his relationship with his first wife even after having kids with his second wife, Billie, Chris’s mom, Chris felt like society and money corrupted his father and whole family and he just wanted to get away from it all.
Into the Wild, a book by Jon Krauker and a film by Sean Penn, features the journey of Christopher McCandless, the son of wealthy parents who graduates from Emory University as a top student and athlete. However, instead of embarking on a prestigious and profitable career, he chooses to give his savings to charity, rid himself of his possessions, and set out on a journey to the Alaskan wilderness. Chris McCandless claims, “Happiness is only real when shared. " One should always be prepared to go into the wild. Chris McCandless, a young adult, made the egotistical decision to venture into the wild leaving behind his loved ones and future.
Chris McCandless was a college student with a need for adventure. On April 28, 1992, he left on a journey which would lead to the end of his life. After news of his death had reached public ear, most people came to the same conclusion: Chris McCandless was an uneducated, arrogant boy who went on a journey seeking death. However, in the novel Into the Wild, Jon Krakaur portrays Chris McCandless’ transcendental quest as a journey full of wonder. Throughout the novel, Krakaur defines McCandless as an intelligent, hard working, determined young man.
Chris’s need to “divorce” his parents was due to the fact that he truly despised the lifestyle that they lived and had, especially since it was fueled by materialism and betrayal. Chris’s father, Walt, lived a double life before and during the first years of Chris’ life. He seemingly had two women at his beck and call, but as soon he got discovered and that lifestyle vanquished for him. Although,