I disagree with the author that Chris McCandless was a crazy person, a sociopath, and an outcast, but even though he was very bright, he made some decisions. Before entering the wild Chris had just recently graduated from college with his degree. He was an intelligent student without any street smarts. Upon his departure, he left behind his sister whom he loved very much and his parents who he was upset with. That was a feeling he had especially about his father. His anger toward his parents and his eagerness to go on an exciting adventure around the country were the factors why he ultimately made the decision, thus going, “Into the Wild.” Chris McCandless, with a college education, whom many considered a brilliant and intelligent individual, had not obtained street smarts. The result led him to his death …show more content…
Though, he was described by many people as an intelligent individual, he had no street smarts, this led to his death from poisonous potato seeds. He made the mistake of leaving his loved ones behind especially his sister. McCandless was driven and had his mind set on this terrifying and dangerous adventure all leading up to his journey in Alaska which is why he continued his life on his own. Chris should have kept his college savings in order to survive this adventure to the wild. With the money he had saved, possibly could have kept him alive to this current day. His final act on Earth was taking a last picture ever. “ One of his lasts acts was himself, standing near the bus under the high Alaska sky, one holding his final note toward the camera lens, other raised in a brave beautiful farewell.” (p.119) His family, the friends he met along the way will never see him or any person with the same conscious again. This was the end for Christopher McCandless, a man who enjoyed the thrill of a dangerous path, did indeed end his life in the
Into the Wild Essay In 1992, 24 year old Christopher McCandless abandoned his possessions and decided to hitchhike to Alaska and invent a new life for himself. Chris had just finished college and many thought he was going to further his education but instead he took a fatal trip into the wild. There are many questions still unanswered to why he felt he needed to go on this trip and people will never know the real reason why Chris McCandless hitchhiked to Alaska by himself with insufficient equipment.
Chris McCandless was in his early 20’s, he was the kind of that guy that wanted to learn and experience life without all of the material things. He wanted to be independent from his parents and friends so Chris did something that would be insane for most of us humans but to him, it wasn’t. He went into the wild of Alaska for months, in fact, McCandless even thought he could make it out alive at the end of his journey. As a matter of fact, he was known as being a risk taker and enjoyed being out and about in the nature side of the world. Many would believe that Chris McCandless went into the wild to purposely kill himself; however, I myself believe that McCandless did not do it purposely.
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.
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.
He did what anyone would do if they had their own beliefs and dreams. McCandless was one special person who had very different views on the world with society. No matter how many people doubt his actions and felt he was wrong, they can't know the true reason for him doing so unless they were in his shoes. Although he did explain some of the reasons for doing so no one knew what was the exact point that made him have a belief that society was not needed. The courageous man Chris McCandless died knowing he had done what he believed and never gave up on
The conclusion of craziness that Callarman suggests does not withstand the concrete evidence from scientific studies and analyzation of journal entries and testimonial accounts of Chris McCandless’s end stages of life. Although Shaun Callarman is correct that Chris made many mistakes based on ignorance and not enough education, that does not make guarantee craziness. The young man, Chris McCandless, was able to not only prepare for and record the journey of a lifetime but was also able to succeed in fulfilling the childhood dream of enduring the Alaskan
He went into the wilderness to experience adventure and to find things he was searching for; nature, the path to happiness and freedom. Chris’ determination, self will, pursuit of happiness and the urge to break free are all explored. He did everything he could, so people wouldn’t be able to find him. Changing his name to Alex Supertramp, eliminating everything he had, and only taking things that he needs. Jon Krakauer's “Into the Wild” is an excellent book about how McCandless traveled to Alaska, and how he conquered his dreams.
Bringing a map, keeping some money with him, accepting items that people offered him, and many more factors contributed to his death. Dozens of predictions were made on how Chris died. Jon Krakauer wrote an article in the New Yorker specifically on how Chris died. “The probable cause of death, according to the coroner's report, was starvation.” (Jon Krakauer “How Chris McCandless Died”)
In Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, he focuses on one main person, Chris McCandless. Krakauer explains most of Chris's life and even, at times, puts his own input into the pages of this book. Chris McCandless (a.k.a Alexander Supertramp) was from Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. Chris had a father, Walt McCandless, a mother, Billie Mccandless, and a younger sister, Carine. Chris's obsession with nature and high-risk activities was believed to start when "Walt took Billie and his children from both marriages to climb Longs Peak in Colorado."
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.
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.
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.
In the novel “Into the Wild” Chris McCandless is portrayed as a hero. Chris possesses many heroic traits but he lacks one very important quality. One of Chris's most heroic traits throughout the novel is bravery. Another one of Chris’s heroic traits is determination. The trait that Chris seems to lack throughout the novel is responsibility.
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.
At first glance, it would be normal to assume McCandless was not very educated: he didn’t have a stable job, he didn’t prepare for his journey by packing supplies, etc. Jon Krakaur delves into McCandless’ story and reveals that