Into The Wild Synthesis Essay

People at some point in their lives have been overly confident about a certain aspect. This confidence has either lead to something desirable or not so desirable. Jon Krakauer in a book he wrote titled Into The Wild writes about a man's adventure into the wild. Chris Mccandless, The main character in this title was born into a friendly family his mom Billie and his dad Walt. Mccandless has three siblings but is very close to his little sister Carine. 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. Mccandless wanted to find

In life some feel the need to prove something to others. That they are better, stronger, or even more intelligent. Whatever the case may be people will go through extreme measures to prove themselves. But who do we really need to prove anything to? Is it our parents? Friends? Enemies? Or is it even ourselves? Chris McCandless, deceased adventurer from “Into the Wild”, underwent many obstacles that seems highly ridiculous. Certain physical and mental challenges that could have prevented, Chris decided to do defying the chance of death or severe injury. But the real misunderstanding is who was Chris proving his manhood too?

Ultimately, Chris McCandless’ was an audacious wanderer and effectively proceeding through his journey with aspirations and ambition for his own self. McCandless’ stance of life presents the real spirit of a bold

A common thought among adolescents is the dream to finally leave home and discover who they are; I certainly share this dream. Though the concept is common, the reasons are unique; The differences in character and circumstances define who a person is. What may appear reasonable to some could very well be completely irrational to another. The story of Chris McCandless as reported by Jon Krakauer in the biographic novel Into the Wild is no exception. From the events in his childhood to the conflict with his father, we can see that Chris McCandless, a young man still discovering himself, became disillusioned with the structure of society and desired nothing more than to “no longer be poisoned by civilization” (163). Although McCandless had an adventurous, independent nature, it was his darker past, the conflict with his family, that influenced him to seek refuge in the wild.

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. Shaun Callarman argues that McCandless acted arrogant and ignorant going to Alaska. I agree with Callarman 's analysis about Chris McCandless and his journey to find himself. McCandless 's determination to live in nature risked his life.

Christopher McCandless, a 29-year-old dreamer, went on the journey of a lifetime to involve himself with nature and being truly independent. He had lived a life of privilege, made amazing grades in school, and even went to school at Emory College, getting degrees in both history and anthropology. Even though he seemed to have everything good going for him, it’s not the life he wanted. McCandless decides after law school to go deep into the “wild”, with no map, no resources. All he kept was a small journal and camera in which he captured and recorded all of his experiences in, allowing people for the rest of time to read and learn about his journey in his book titled Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer. This impulsive decision that McCandless made would soon cost him his life, and most people would see him as being crazy for it. A man named Shaun Callarman, for example, believed that he “ had no Common sense. . . he was just plain crazy.” I disagree with this statement, however, and believe that Christopher had a very transcendentalist view on life,agreeing with most all of the great Henry David Thoreau and his ideals, but just made a few careless mistakes that would have been the difference between life and death.

In the book “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer, Chris McCandless had many decisions to leave his old life behind and start over. Chris’ decision to leave was justified for the following reasons. When he suddenly disappeared, it made it easier for him to let go of his past and focus on what he wants to do in the future. McCandless could make all his own decisions, nobody had a chance to tell him that he could not leave and certainly did not allow anyone to find out where he was going. Finally he didn’t agree to social norms. Although some might argue that McCandless should have notified his parents that he was going to take this trip, however, if he would’ve told his family they would have gone out of their way to bring him back home. Furthermore Mccandless did tell his parents that he was going on this trip and didn’t find the need to tell them where he was going minute by minute. He was an adult and understood what the consequences were.

What makes one head off into the wild, leaving behind everything you know and owned? What are one’s motive for such action? Chris McCandless was no stranger to this, a young guy who had just graduated from college a few years prior to his “great Alaskan odyssey” (203). Knowing McCandless’s motive for this dangerous adventure, it makes sense to at least try.

Chris McCandless, a unique man, embarked on the journey of a lifetime. During his adventure, he broke away from the constraints of society and he learned what is important in life. I admire what Chris was trying to accomplish by heading “into the wild”, and I can see parts of my beliefs in his. My experiences are different from McCandless’ experiences in as many ways as they are similar.

It can be easy to assume that he concocted the idea from the readings of Jack London, Leo Tolstoy, Henry David Thoreau, and other authors considered transcendentalists. The authors of the writings Chris McCandless took with him on his journey challenged the lifestyle of complacency and materialistic views of those more fortunate than others. While his morals may have derived from these transcendentalists, his reason for taking the journey was all his own. Chris paid no attention to the people around him and followed what he felt was right; even if that meant leaving his parents in the dark. So they would never know his struggle to survive in

In the book Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer focuses on naive Chris McCandless. McCandless isolates himself from the world and goes soul searching to find who he really is in hopes of finding peace. McCandless grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and he is very talented both in sports and his academic work. At an early age Chris shows a love for the outdoors and has a very adventurous side of him that the rest of his family can see . After graduating from high school McCandless spends the summer alone on a road trip across the country. McCandless returns home and starts as a freshman at Emory. After he graduates from college he decided to go on a journey and not tell any family or friends. Was he asking for a death wish or trying to prove a point?

McCandless has often been compared to Henry David Thoreau and without doubt McCandless was influenced by the transcendentalist movement but to compare these two people would be an insult to Thoreau and his philosophy. It is true that he displayed civil disobedience hitchhiking when it is not allowed, hoping freights, and hunting in Stampede Trail without a license; Chris’s father also points out that “He refused instruction of any kind” (Krakauer, Wild 111). He interprets “civil disobedience” as a rejection of any kind of imposed law expressing extremely individualistic ideals freeing yourself from society and power, but Thoreau considers his responsibility to break the law if it overrun the rights of other human beings and is against his judgement of morals rather than following the will of the government and the majority blindly.

Arguably McCandless represents the mainly American character through his absolute independence from society and his parents. He also displays some general characteristics such as being a hard-worker, continually optimistic, educated, friendly, frank, and non-family-oriented. Above all the individuality of McCandless, stubbornness, and ability to take risks is most representative idealistically of being an American. We value being different from others, believe in risking our lives, money, and honor for our beliefs, and commitment to our beliefs despite overwhelming odds and common sense. He falls short on being an American because although American culture usually praises taking risks they usually expect the risk to come with reward – not death.

Joseph Campbell once said, "Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning." In the eyes of many, Chris McCandless was a troubled man. Many thought that he was not going in the direction his life should have been aimed. Instead of seeking employment with his college degree, marrying, doing “normal things” at his age, he chose to donate the money that remained in his college fund to a charity called Oxfam, assumed the name of Alexander Supertramp, deserted his family and began a journey all over the country that would ultimately lead to his great Alaskan adventure. McCandless’ death led to much media attention, which in turn, led to strong opinions about