Into the Wild recounts the story of a young man, Chris McCandless, who tries to escape from society in order to find himself. Fascinated by nature, Chris gives up most of his material possessions to hitchhike around the western United States. Interestingly enough, he severs all ties with his family and believes that he can find happiness within himself, yet makes connections with several people along his journal. Fueled by the ideology of writers such as Tolstoy, London, and Thoreau, Chris camps alone in the Alaskan wild to find a purer version of himself until his death. Throughout Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer develops the idea that Chris McCandless’ quest for solitude is essential to obtain true freedom; however, Chris ultimately realizes
Firstly, Into The Wild written by Jon Krakauer is one of the best book I have read this year. Throughout the novel, I can see Chris McCandless is brave enough to do things that most people will not even think about doing as he is “looking for more adventure and freedom than today’s society gives people” (). From the beginning, even though his parents, Billie and Walt McCandless set him up for an impressive, promising life, Chris gives up this promising, successful future and spins into a journey filled with idealist literature and danger that skews his world view. This is due to the modern society offers that does not appeal to Chris, who just wants a different life that many have themselves. He sees the influences society puts on our lives
Together we stand, stand alone, as we stand, we stand together. Chris stood by himself searching to find Alex. McCandless’s need to find himself is what led him into the wild, and it’s what led him to his eventual death. No one could know why Chris searched to find Alex. We can only Speculate.
In the novel, Into the Wild, author Jon Krakauer presents the journey and life story of Christopher McCandless, a twenty-two-year-old adventurer from Annandale, Virginia. Chris McCandless, also known by the alias Alexander Supertramp, abandoned his former life in the suburbs of Virginia and traveled into the Alaskan wilderness in an attempt to escape the materialistic ideals of society. After one hundred and thirteen days in the wilderness, McCandless passes away due to starvation. Along with his decomposing body, cryptic messages from his diary are found indicating that he was gradually perishing. Throughout the novel, Krakauer admits to seeing himself in McCandless’ actions.
Chris McCandless was the kind of person who strongly believed in following his dreams and unlike many, he actually followed them. I give him a lot of credit for doing so and he inspires me to follow my dreams. A lot of people say that he was suicidal, however it was his dream that ended up leading to his death. The author, Jon Krakauer, seems to see Chris as an adventurer. He dismisses the common viewpoint that Chris did not understand his surroundings or the risks associated with living in the Alaskan wilderness.
In the book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Chris McCandless is presumed dead after abandoning his parents without their knowledge to go across the United Stated and Canada to reach Alaska. Advancing on his journey he has not only changed his name to Alexander Supertramp, but also encountered many people along the way. These people have helped him survive by giving him shelter and food for the couple of nights that he stayed with them. As he traveled on his Journey he sent back many postcards to his friends that he has made on the way during the journey updating them on his current position as well as informing them put any more people that he met on his journey. When the people that had postcards found out that he was dead they were devastated
Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer, tells the story of modern-day transcendentalist Chris McCandless was a 24 year old engrossed with living on his own in the Alaskan wilderness. In Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer characterizes Chris McCandless as persistent and naive. McCandless was not shy when it came to his end goal in life; he knew what he wanted and was willing to do absolutely anything to acquire his dream. The first character trait Chris is construed as by Krakauer is his persistence in pursuing his dream. When caught in a flood caused by a vicious storm, “McCandless took to the sea… he wrote fewer than a hundred words over the month that followed.”
Chris McCandless was a young, determined man whose goal was to escape society’s values that he believed deprived humanity of it’s true happiness. In the book Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer he describes how people label McCandless as ruthless and careless for not knowing the basics of surviving in Alaska and for abandoning his family. However, McCandless was an educated, intelligent man. He wanted to live in peace in order fulfill his life with happiness he thought was correct. McCandless saw many flaws in society.
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.
This belief was conveyed when Chris said, “Tramping is too easy with all this money. My days were more exciting when I was penniless and had to forage
“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” ―Maya Angelou. Jon Krakauer’s true story titled Into the Wild is about a man who decides to throw away his old life and escape the rules of conventional society. Twenty-two-year-old Chris McCandless came from a well-to-do family in Virginia and, without warning, abandons everything. He changes his name, loses contact with his family, gives away his car and all his money, and begins a two-year long journey hitchhiking to Alaska where he eventually dies of starvation.
This is what makes Chris stand out as a hero and a person with redeeming qualities. Chris McCandless’s walks into Alaska’s wild with almost nothing to eat and nothing to shelter with. Before he enters the wild he writes to Wayne “this is the last time you will hear from me…
This quote challenges the perception of Chris as merely self absorbed or ignorant, showing his ability to inspire and bring joy to those around him Additionally, McCandless’s quest for self reliance and connection with nature, reveals his depth of character and determination. While some may view his actions as arrogant or foolish, Chris’s experiences in the wilderness reflect a profound respect for the natural world and a desire to find meaning beyond materialistic
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.
Chris McCandless was a college student with a need for adventure. On April 28, 1992, he left on a journey which would lead to the end of his life. After news of his death had reached public ear, most people came to the same conclusion: Chris McCandless was an uneducated, arrogant boy who went on a journey seeking death. However, in the novel Into the Wild, Jon Krakaur portrays Chris McCandless’ transcendental quest as a journey full of wonder. Throughout the novel, Krakaur defines McCandless as an intelligent, hard working, determined young man.
