Into The Wild, By Jon Krakauer

In Into the Wild written by Jon Krakauer, the circumstances surrounding Chris McCandless’s death in the Alaskan wilderness have led some to argue that his lack of preparedness and disregard for safety is a tragic waste of his life. McCandless’s story begins with the discovery of his body by Alaskan hunters who visit Denali National Park and Preserve. Krakauer, tells the story of McCandless, a young man who left behind his comfortable life to live in the wilderness of Alaska. The text explores themes such as the pursuit of individualism, the search for meaning in life, and the dangers of idealism. Throughout the publication, Krakauer examines McCandless’s motivations and decisions and attempts to unravel the mystery of why he chose to leave

Krakauer, who is an experienced mountaineer himself, suggests that McCandless was driven by a desire for adventure and a romanticized vision of the wilderness. Krakauer illustrates that McCandless was not the first individual to embark on such a journey. McCandless was aware of the dangers he faced. It can be said that the survival of Krakauer and the unfortunate demise of McCandless is ultimately determined by chance.

McCandless’ lack of careful consideration for his safety and well-being is evident throughout his journey in Into the Wild. For instance, McCandless ventured into the unforgiving wilderness with little more than a backpack, a few books, and pounds of rice. He lacked basic survival skills, such as how to start a fire, and was not properly equipped to survive in the wild. Moreover, McCandless often acted irresponsibly. He ignored the warnings from experienced hikers and hunters who urged him to stay

“He didn’t carelessly confuse one species with another. The plant that poisoned him was not known to be toxic… …McCandless simply made the mistake of ingesting its seed pods. (Krakauer)” Due to Krakauer’s familiarity with the sense of wanting to break away from a structure, he often defends McCandless’s arrogance. McCandless did not have enough nourishment to go adventuring into the wild and hunting for game made him uncomfortable. If one commits to going into the wilderness one needs to plan and know basic survival skills. Making an “innocent error,” as Krakauer puts it, one cannot afford to make when pursuing such