Individualism is when a person has achieved non-conformity, self-reliance, free-thought, confidence, and finding one’s self through nature. Although individualism may be achieved in society, it cannot be fully achieved until one removes himself from society. Chris McCandless did exactly that; he removed himself from society by backpacking and hitchhiking throughout the United States to test and achieve individualism. McCandless’s last great adventure was to Alaska to fully obtain individualism, unfortunately, he died trying to find his spiritual belonging and individualism. Many people would think it was absurd that Chris left his family and threw his life away, and they would think that he was not justified in leaving society, however, Chris McCandless was justified in leaving society because by doing so he could achieve non-conformity and self-reliance without being oppressed. Chris McCandless would not have been able to achieve non-conformity or …show more content…
Many would say he was unjustified, but many do the same thing but on a minuscule scale, and he was justified to seek out non-conformity and self-reliance by leaving society because like many people today he wanted solitude from the government and mainstream society. Additionally, the adventure of Chris McCandless shows that when we want solitude or want to find ourselves we should be prepared, and that leaving society is not as horrible as people make it to be. Non-conformity and self-reliance and all the other attributes of individualism have to be found outside of society because society will hold everyone back. Everyone at one point wants to know who they truly are, and if you want to leave society that is fine, but be prepared not only physically but also be prepared mentally for what one can learn and
McCandless focuses his life around himself and is egotistical. The reason he may think only of himself is due to his ability to detach himself from society’s norms. He was in a position to do so by returning to nature and leaving cities and industries behind. It was his own choice to become an independent individual and break free from the chains of society. McCandless “tried to follow” his “dream” and realized them (Krakauer 96).
He felt that he could live by himself in the wilderness without them, which didn't workout that way. In Krakauer's novel he mentions McCandless “wanted to prove to himself that he could make it own his own, without anybody else’s help.” (Krakauer 159) which shows how rebellious McCandless really was. I think if he wasn’t so rebellious and had different philosophical views that he wouldn’t have made the actions he did to go into the Alaskan wilderness and would've lived a normal
Where there wasn’t anyone to tell him, no, don’t follow that route. We don’t want you to hinder all that we have indure, your parents want more for you.. He grew weary of his surroundings, he tried too hard to make sense of the everyday world. Tired of the representation of a good samaritan, McCandless could care less what everyone else did, prior to that very moment. He wanted to choose the path that he wanted, just like his heroes Jack London and David Thoreau.
In August 1992, a decomposed body, presumably died of starvation, was found inside an abandoned bus beside the Sushana River in Alaska. Shortly thereafter, the dead person was identified as twenty-four-year-old Chris McCandless, who was from an affluent family in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. A tragic story, with a mix of a young man, his well-off background, and happening in the most precarious but highly noble place, always had an emotional pull on people’s minds and stirred up people’s curiosity and perplexity. The question, often asked by the people with desire to grasp the truths, was why Chris with a privileged life would have gone to Alaska’s wilderness to face the ultimate challenge of his life. Was he in search of something
Furthermore, McCandless stayed the same person until one event in his
One may say that McCandless’ violent childhood is what caused his downfall. McCandless may have even had the right idea, separating himself from his family, but due to his fragile state of mind he may have gone to too much of an extreme. He ended up taking the policies and principles of transcendentalism too far, which is really what resulted in his death. A concept that transcendentalism goes strongly against is materialism, a principle that may have saved his life. He was so anti materialistic in fact, that he refused to even have a phone or form of communication, this ultimately could have saved his life.
Society’s values influence people to construct their personal mores around them, and those who do not are not accepted by society. In our society, those who have well-paying careers are valued above those who do not. So when McCandless decided against following the path society expects him to, his parents were upset. “Chris informed his parents that he had no intention of going to college. When Walt and Billie suggested that he needed a college degree to attain a fulfilling career, Chris answered that careers were demeaning ‘twentieth-century inventions,’ more of a liability than an asset, and that he would do fine without one, thank you” (114).
One piece of evidence that demonstrates McCandless’ attitude toward the government was that McCandless does not really care for the government rules. Reason so is that when his car battery died rather than going to the rangers to ask for help he did not, reason so is because he did not want to be asked questions. “If he went to the rangers… they would have some irksome questions for him: Why had he ignored posted regulations and driven down the wash in the first place? Was he aware that the vehicles registration had expired two years before and had not been renewed? Did he know that his driver’s license had also expired, and the vehicle was uninsured as well?”
Chris McCandless: A Reckless Idiot Chris McCandless was a reckless idiot and there is no denying that basic truth. Chris McCandless was a man born into a middle class family. Chris had parents that loved him, a roof over his head, and food to eat. Despite all those riches he had, he threw them away. Chris was a very selfish man.
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 portrays a man who went on a fatal unforgettable journey through the alaska wilderness. Chris McCandless was a man with great courage and the ability to live on his own made him more of a hero going on his fatal journey. Many would say he was foolish or not thinking right, but that is not the case. The case here is simply a man with courage wanting to fulfill is beliefs through his journey. One may ask what is courage.
In the words of John Krakauer “So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future.” If asked to describe Chris Mcandless in Into The Wild one could say that he is simply foolish. Chris could have lived a longer life if he would have stayed in the comfort of his own hometown. Chris’ common sense was obliterated by his time in the wilderness. Not only did he throw common sense to the wind, he also went into the wild leaving behind many people who loved and cared deeply about him.
I believe Shaun Callarman whom focuses on Chris McCandless is quite harsh in saying Chris had no common sense and saying that he does not admire him for his courage when Chris McCandless was a brave, wise and intelligent man. He knew exactly what he was getting into when he started his journey on going to Alaska. I think that he wanted to explore the wild and experience a different life other than the one he had. I disagree with Callarman saying McCandless was bright and arrogant at the same time. He had no business going to Alaska but that was his tactic for getting away from society.
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.
It is simply waiting out there for you to grasp it, and all you have to do is reach for it” (pg 57). Christopher McCandless is a remarkable man who sincerely believed in the transcendentalist view of having a simplified life, mirroring Henry David Thoreau’s ideals. Christopher broke out of his life of conformity to accomplish something he was immensely passionate about. Lots of people admire him for his braveness and independence, and others think he went nuts. When it comes down to it, Christopher McCandless ended his life the way he wanted.