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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

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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.

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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).

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