An Emory Eagle Chris McCandless grew up in Virginia, just west of Washington D.C. There, his parents raised him and supported his studies until he graduated from high school and was accepted at Emory University. McCandless studied hard at Emory, was never seen anywhere other than the library, had top grades, and wrote editorials for the school paper. He was a child full of accomplishments that any parent would have been proud to own. Chris hated that. He hated the thought of his parents, especially his dad, having had near total control over him. He never showed any signs of it, but by the end of college, Chris McCandless was dying to get away. Throughout the story, Chris showed he had a determination to get to Alaska. On his trip he meets various people who care for him. Often times, these people that Chris builds relationships with, will recommend that he do something before he heads into the wild. However, Chris’ arrogance caused him to leave behind his new friends with ease in order to reach his intended goal. Chris’ dad Walt understands that Chris is a knowledgeable young man, but Chris would always refuse to listen: “Chris was good at almost everything he …show more content…
It was clear that his relationship with his parents were far from close. He didn’t want anything to do with them and wanted to forget about them entirely. He needed some space for himself, so he looked to the forests of Alaska for a place where he could achieve his own peace and quiet. After having spent time by himself, disconnected from the rest of society, Chris felt that he had had a sufficient experience and that it was time he leave his refuge in Alaska. He states that he had moved beyond his need to separate himself from his parents and that “Maybe he was prepared to forgive their imperfections; maybe he was even prepared to forgive some of his own. McCandless seemed
Throughout the story, Krakauer tells the reader more and more about Chris’ relationship with his parents, if it even is one. Chris never felt quite sure to be himself around his parents, forming his every move to how they wanted him to live through standards and rules. Sporadically in the book the reader learns different parts of Chris’ life, including what his parents thought of him. Krakauer states that Walt, Chris’ father, said, “‘He didn’t think the odds applied to him. We were always trying to pull him back from the edge”.
I think that Chris was very immature because he underestimated the power of nature and didn’t think of the necessary precautions. For example, he thought he could make it in the alaskan wilderness without a map or a compass. The text states “If McCandless had possessed a U.S. Geological Survey topographic map, it would have alerted him to the existence of a Park Service cabin on the upper Sushana River…” (Krakauer 196). I also think he was going on all these journeys to prove something to his parents or another person.
His Dad was abusive to him and his family, especially his mom. All his childhood trauma and events have bottled up inside and he doesn't want anything to do with his parents based on the neglect. On page 64 the letter to Carine says “i'm going to divorce them as my parents once and for all and never speak to either one of those idiots again as long as I live”. Chris has developed a hatred towards his parents and now that he knows they don’t know where he's at, he has a sort of satisfaction. He found who he
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
Chris’s parents never really understood what was best for Chris and they never wanted to acknowledge what Chris wanted. Especially when Chris was unprepared when he went into the wilderness. It seemed as
At the fault of his father, he reacted rashly. “When Walt’s double life came to light, the revelations inflicted deep wounds. All parties suffered terrible.” This would be a negative turning point in anyone's life, but Chris was wrong to just pack up and take himself to his death.
He wasn’t afraid of not coming back alive. So when he went into the wild in Alaska, Chris felt like he was for sure going to come back and publish the book that he has written throughout his journey to show others that taking risks like this is totally okay. Unfortunately for Chris it wasn’t okay. I believe that he did not intend to “kill himself” for going into the wild with basically nothing.
Chris had a huge impact on everyone he knew, but he would not let them influence him or his decisions at all. He rebelled against his family because his father was too controlling. Later on, when any of his companions told him not to go to Alaska, or tried telling him to do anything that he did not want to, he would totally ignore them, and change the subject. As Krakauer writes in chapter 6, “McCandless…relieved that he had again evaded the impending threat of human intimacy, of friendship, and all the messy emotional baggage that comes with it. He had fled the claustrophobic confines of his family.
Chris and his father never really got along. A man, a son, should always have his father there for him and talk to him, not be abusive towards him; this could have been a significant reason why he did what he wanted to do. On pg.6, in talking with Jim Gallian, Chris told him “he hadn't
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.
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 since leaving society for the wild. I agree with Callarman’s position of thinking “ he had no common sense” and that
He wanted full disconnect from the world, fully he didn't want no contact with anyone. “The fact that Chris never bothered to let his family, specifically his parents, know where he was when he was gone for two years” (Jessica Robbins, 2012) she says she doesn't believe he did it on purpose but i feel like he did, the fact he found the truth about his parents is when he felt like his parents now feel about having no clue to where he may be i think he wanted to make his parents feel some of the pain he's felt so he hides himself from the very start. For instance, in the movie you
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.
Death. While the outcome is the same for everyone, no two people live the same lives. Ivan Ilych was a character in Leo Tolstoy 's novel The Death of Ivan Ilych. Ivan was a selfish lawer who was unhappy with his life until right before he died. Portrayed in the movie Into the Wild, Christopher McCandless was a free spirit he did what he want when he wanted.
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,