Transcendentalism In Into The Wild By Chris Jakauer

Chris was very inspired by Thoreau’s writing which may have triggered a powerful part in his brain that gradually made him become obsessed with the idea of fleeing from California and heading up to

That makes it so when he finally left, he could respect all of the wishes that were taken away from him.. They say that variety is the spice of life. I slightly disagree, but Chris McCandless really disagrees. He wants to enjoy the simplicity of life, and he wants to enjoy the raw beauty that nature is offering him. Chris has always had a fondness for the wilderness, almost as if it’s calling to him.

On the other hand, the reason he chose Alaska might come confounding to some readers, living in Virginia, he would not have been used to the weather, animals, maybe even the people. Despite all of the negative factors, setting a goal and accomplishing it, and eating the obstacles as if they were nothing just once again proves Chris’s intelligence, and seek for

It is clear that Chris enjoyed nature, but also enjoyed the company of people. “And get himself back to the world of men and women, where he could chug a beer, talk philosophy, enthrall strangers with tales of what he’d done,” Chris goes into detail on aspects of his previous life that he misses. Throughout his journey Chris reads many books written by Transcendentalist authors, when he quotes Tolstoy, saying that happiness is to live for others, it is no little thing. If Chris was a Transcendentalist he would believe that happiness is being connected

“Don’t hesitate or allow yourself to make excuses. Just get out and do it... You will be very glad you did.” I think Chris went into the wild to find a new life or experience what he was missing, which is what about everyone the world wants to do. Meet new people, experience new things, etc.

Kevin Sun Mrs. Cohen English 2CP --D February 22, 2018 Another Perspective The film Into the Wild is based on the life of Chris McCandless, a young man who rejected the consumerist society of America in order to live a more simple life. Through his travels, Chris carried essays by Transcendentalist philosophers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, suggesting that McCandless is impacted by Transcendentalist ideals. Two key tenets of Transcendentalism that clearly influenced McCandless’ choices are the value of simplicity and the importance of self-reliance.

Romanticism was a movement during the late 18th century that encouraged imagination, exploration, individualism, and emotion. From it derived Transcendentalism, one of the first movements to originate from America and which bore the first American philosophers. These movements are often present in many pieces of American literature and this is no exception in Jon Krakauer’s novel Into the Wild. The historic account retells the story of a young man named Chris McCandless, who adopts the pseudonym Alexander Supertramp and takes to the road, only to die of starvation in Alaska. On the surface it appears to be cautionary tale, but Krakauer literally retraces McCandless’ steps, talking to the people who Chris spoke with and even traveling to Chris’ final resting place.

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”- Henry David Thoreau. Transcendentalism is an American philosophy that revolves around self-reliance and independence, commonly in nature, a Transcendentalist wants to find the true meaning in life. I believe that Chris McCandless was a Transcendentalist because he was able to leave his whole life behind and take on a minimalist lifestyle while having a strong relationship with god. However, I believe that I am not a Transcendentalist, but simply an adventurer.

Christopher McCandless, the protagonist of the novel and film Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer, is not your average guy. Driven by his minimalist ideals and hate for society, he challenged the status quo and embarked on a journey that eventually lead to his unforeseen demise. A tragic hero, defined by esteemed writer, Arthur Miller, is a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on tragedy. Christopher McCandless fulfills the role of Miller’s tragic hero due to the fact that his tragic flaw of minimalism and aversion towards society had lead him to his death.

The characteristics of transcendentalism is individual vs society and the connection between human and nature. A subject of Into the Wild is individual vs society because Chris McCandless tends to desire to chase freedom and be alone rather than with people. In the last letter ever received from Everett Ruess, to his brother Waldo on November 11th, 1934. He explains that he wants to live in isolation.

He wanted to go in there without really anything so that he can make things that were in the nature. “Chris didn’t think twice about risking his own life…”(Carine McCandless 128). I absolutely think that this quote about Chris is very true because he was so into finding new adventures to take, to enjoy and be happy with

In the 19th and 20th century transcendentalism was a new and exciting topic that caused tremendous controversy. In the novel Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Chris McCandless was a man with a very unique character. In more detailed words Chris McCandless was a transcendentalist. His actions and moods played a big part in his life, from beginning to end. He was a transcendentalist because of his self-reliance, confidence and non-conformity.

Numerous People state that Chris McCandless was a very thoughtless individual who made crazy decisions after graduating college. Yet many people found his actions to be inspiring as he risked his life to flee the hectic world that surrounded him. As Chris was raised in a perfect environment, living in wealthy middle-class, His relationship with his parents was very degenerating especially towards his father after he found out his dad cheated on his mother when he was younger. This ultimately led Chris to begin his trip to Alaska so he can find his true-self and to live life how it's meant to be lived.

Into the Wild, is a non-fiction novel written by Jon Krauker, about the story of a young man, called Christian McCandless who after graduating university decides to leave his privileges aside and walk into the wildness. Without the support of his family, he travels to Alaska, living in complete isolation, and escaping a fake society. The author through the story proves that Christopher had a very complicated relationship with his family, leading to a loss of identity and eventually the journey with no turning back. In this essay the relationship between his family and Christopher will be discussed in order to comprehend the person he becomes after mistrust issues with them.

In Penns movie, Into the Wild, He left his parents, and multiple people he met along his journey. People would grow attached to Chris, like the free spirited couple he met on the road and the old man who loved him so much he wanted to adopt him, but Chris was selfish and left. He wanted to go to Alaska so badly that he just wanted to leave his whole life behind. Chris trying to leave society makes his disregard the rules and laws that society put in place. To kayak down a river Chris needed a license but when he applied the waitlist was too long so he disregarded the waitlist and went kayaking down the river.