ipl-logo

Into The Wild Thesis

1076 Words5 Pages

Into the Wild Final Essay

Outline:
Working thesis statement; Jon Krakauer's “Into the Wild” is a story that highlights the tenants of transcendentalism and its presence of challenging the societal norms of materialism and conformity.

Main Topics:
Chris McCandless’s journey as a manifestation of transcendentalism.
The Role of Nature in McCandless’s Transformation and Transcendentalism.
The critic of modern society, and its values in “Into the Wild.”
The controversy surrounding McCandless’s actions, and the opposition to his transcendentalist ideals.

Essay “Into the Wild” is a non-fiction book written by Jon Krakauer. It tells the story of Chris McCandless, a young man who ventured into the Alaskan wilderness in search of adventure and …show more content…

He gave his life savings to charity, and abandoned his car, again trying to escape. This time as he writes in a letter to a friend, “Rather than love, then money, then faith, then fortune fortune fortune, fairness…give me the truth” (57). Shown by this quote, McCandless values honesty, and authenticity over the superficial values of modern society. Chapters later, when he is reflecting on his journey, he writes, “I’m going to paraphrase Thoreau here… rather than love, then money, then faith, then fame, then fairness… give me the truth” (189). McCandless is involved in a much larger tradition of American individualism, how he’s trying to live without these values in his own life. “Into the Wild” is a powerful critique of modern society plus its values, to be a reminder of seeking truth and authenticity in our …show more content…

As Jon Krakauer writes “Into the Wild”, “McCandless was thrilled to be on his way north, and he was relieved as well - relieved that he had again invaded the impending threat of human intimacy, of friendship, and all the messy, emotional baggage that comes with it” (22). This means that McCandless was avoiding human connections, as criticism of his transcendentalist ideals. As Krakauer writes “It is easy, when you are young, to believe that what you desire is no less than what you deserve, to assure, if you really want something in life, it is your God-given right to have it” (155). Criticism of McCandless, being reckless, and showing how he believed he was entitled to his journey, even if this meant putting himself in

Show More
Related
1196 Words | 5 Pages

McCandless had some controversial ideals and flaws, but the lessons and inspiration he left behind cannot be denied. His unwavering commitment to his ideals is a testament to his inspiring mindset. The unique life he led serves as an inspiration to many but also as a reminder of the importance of considering the impact of one’s actions on others. Everyone can learn a great deal from McCandless’ life and should strive to live with a similar goal: To pursue a life with the freedom to be one’s true self. Works Cited Krakauer, Jon.

Read More
1487 Words | 6 Pages

The type of life McCandless lived is shared by few and understood by even less, inviting negative judgment for his lack of conventional life. Krakauer, however, illustrates McCandless’s journey as a monumental change, “At long last he was unencumbered, emancipated from the stifling world of his parents and peers, a world of abstraction and security and material excess, a world in which he felt grievously cut off from the raw throb of existence" (Krakauer 22). The tone in which Krakauer displays McCandless’s reasoning invokes a sense of understanding as to who McCandless was as a person and the disposition he presented throughout his life. While the statement is neither negative or positive, the descriptive language used implies an undercurrent of joy and the thrill of adventure, all of which McCandless had expressed to others and mentioned in his personal journal. However, the wording can be considered flowery, supporting the claim that Krakauer glamorizes “…the poacher Chris McCandless…into some sort of poor, admirable romantic soul lost in the wilds of Alaska” (Medred 1).

Read More
1475 Words | 6 Pages

Jon Krakauer, in the book “Into the Wild” argues that Chris Mccandless isolated himself from society in order to gain a sense of self in nature. Krakauer supports his argument by explaining how Chris struggled with many aspects of belonging in society so he looked to isolation and challenge to find himself. The author’s purpose is to persuade a general audience including groups interested in nature in order to prove that Chris had a valid reason to walk into the wild. The author's purpose is to convince a general audience including outdoor experts and avid nature adventurers that escaping the constraints of society into the wilderness was the best option for Chris McCandless. The author writes in an empathetic tone for his general audience,

Read More
1015 Words | 5 Pages

In the non-fiction piece, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer, the audience follows young Christopher McCandless through his journey across the American west to his inevitable death, dragging Krakauer in the narrative throughout. In a story about the life and death of the young boy, Krakauer continuously interjects his own experience and beliefs regarding Chris’ travels relentlessly. In this way, the author represents a perspective on Chris contrasting many criticisms of the young man, though Krakauer carries his own criticisms of the young adventurer. Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild, inserts himself into the text through his personal experience and connection to Christopher McCandless and his beliefs effectively providing contrast to those

Read More
498 Words | 2 Pages

Jon Krakauer, Chris McCandless, and Henry David Thoreau express the aspects of Transcendentalism in their three points of view. Transcendentalism is based on the belief that human beings have self-wisdom and may gain this knowledge or wisdom by how nature flows. It has three common themes: self-wisdom, nature and its meaning, and social reform. Chris McCandless’s life expressed in Krakauer’s Into the Wild is similar to the Transcendental beliefs of Thoreau’s Walden. The first Transcendental point of Chris McCandless’s and Henry David Thoreau’s lives is their dislike of material possessions.

Read More
866 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
959 Words | 4 Pages

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is a biography that follows Chris McCandless and his journey through the wilderness while finding himself along the way. Chris McCandless died in the August of 1992 after a four month journey through places like Mexico and Alaska. Krakauer investigates his actions and analyzes his identity after his death, trying to find meaning within his seemingly unnecessary expedition. Chris McCandless constructs his personal identity as a man who wanted to be challenged and inspired by his actions and interests with people he met on the road, and his beliefs and values as a stubborn person. Chris McCandless’s actions are unusual in many ways; for one, he graduates college with honors, but instead of pursuing a career,

Read More
899 Words | 4 Pages

Into the Wild Christopher McCandless is a son of wealthy parents which were graduates from Emory University as a top student and athlete. Chris McCandless was seeking into the wilderness to show people he can really do it. Krakauer’s statement was proven to show his actions and support his courageous from living in the wilderness. McCandless wanted to walk to Alaska to start his journey on the hike. His adventure lasted 113 days in the wilderness which turned into something that shouldn’t have happened.

Read More
785 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
401 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer gives his own in-depth look of how he feels about the young Chris McCandless. While doing so, he shows the opinions and stereotypes Chris has gained before and after he was in the wild landscapes of Alaska. It conveys how Krakauer feels toward this boy’s journey. Although Krakauer tries to maintain neutrality in analyzing the young Chris McCandless’ life and death, his own views become evident in the Author’s Note.

Read More
806 Words | 4 Pages

Into the Wild tells the story of Chris McCandless, a young man who embarked on an adventure across the U.S. Chris lived for adventure, and sadly met his demise in the Alaskan wilderness. Chris’ death brought about a large debate as to whether Chris was insane or simply idealistic. Krakauer wrote Into the Wild to prove Chris’ sanity and soundly completes that task by using rhetorical devices to persuade his audience. Throughout the book, Krakauer uses ethos to develop Chris’ credibility by providing examples of people who are similar to him. For example, Krakauer provides multiple examples of people who were very similar to Chris, such as Everett Ruess.

Read More
721 Words | 3 Pages

The concept of transcendentalism has been displayed in American literature since the establishment of the notion came about by Ralph Waldo Emerson in the late 1830s. Since the idea’s formation, authors, such as Jon Krakauer, have used their writing to hint at their application of spiritual ideology. In his story, Into the Wild, krakauer uses protagonist, Alex McCandless, to physically represent the embodiment of transcendentalism. The philosophy of transcendentalism is thoroughly apparent in Christopher McCandless’s personal philosophy because of his non-conformity to societal standards of living and his strategies of self-reliance. To begin, McCandless’s refusal to conform to society’s ‘’norms” connects to Emerson’s idea of not conforming to normal civilization.

Read More
629 Words | 3 Pages

Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild investigates the life and adventures of Chris McCandless. The author provides information about Chris’ life to illuminate his journey. Krakauer also uses rhetorical appeals to defend Chris’ rationale for his journey. Through Krakauer’s use of pathos, ethos, and logos, he persuades the audience that Chris is not foolish; however, Krakauer’s intimacy with Chris and his adventures inhibits his objectivity.

Read More
664 Words | 3 Pages

What really drove Chris McCandless into the wild? I believe the top three of the countless reasons that drove McCandless into the wild was the emotional damage from his parents, rebellion of the youth & risk taking tendencies, and his hubris and detestation against authority and/or someone telling him what to do. Some may believe that Chris McCandless went into the wild because of his literary heroes Leo Tolstoy, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau , and Jack London but the real reason he left everything was because of those reasons. In this essay I will elaborate on why I believe those are the reasons that drove McCandless into the wild.

Read More
882 Words | 4 Pages

Based on a real story, Into the Wild can make us think from different perspectives about what the main character Christopher McCandless did. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is a dramatic but also remarkable story from a young, newly graduated, college student that escaped for a long wild journey but never came back. As time passes throughout the book, the reader may notice how the main character interacts with society and nature, finally McCandless dies in the wild but even though he was struggling for survival he died happy. Some people never get out of their comfort zone, others are tired of it and retire from their comfort zone to have different experiences in life, some are good enough or some are terrible.

Read More

More about Into The Wild Thesis

Related Topics

Open Document