Role Of Chris Mccandless In Into The Wild

Is McCandless Admirable?

A famous advocate for human wellbeing, an author, and a role model to many, Michelle Obama, once said, "Be the flame of fate, that torch of truth to guide our young people toward a better future for themselves and for this country." Throughout history, people have utilized the concept of a role model to help them improve and succeed, but what does it mean to be a role model? A role model is someone others look up to and admire for their actions, personality, and, most importantly, attitude. In the book Into the Wild by John Krakauer, despite some people considering Chris McCandles's acts to be incredibly inadequate and that he should not be admired, in actuality, his actions and perseverance indicate that he is a great

McCandles always stays away and avoids collecting materialistic objects. Not only is he anti-materialistic, but he also encourages others to do the same. He gave away all of his belongings, demonstrating that having many possessions is not something he cherishes. This is especially portrayed when McCandless leaves his privileged life, which is hard for anyone to do. In a letter to Wayne Westerburg, McCandless writes, "My days were more exciting when I was penniless" (Krakauer 33). He enjoys not knowing what will come his way. Being "penniless" adds to the impression of uncertainty. He further argues, "Nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future" (57). In other words, every day is a new adventure for him, which most people would avoid. People take comfort in a "secure" living and avoid any "new" challenges. His continuous urge to live according to his values suggests that he is a brave soul. Similarly, he is courageous during his journey to the Alaskan wilderness. Throughout his life, McCandless abstained from receiving help from others. When hitching a ride from Jim Gallien in the freezing weather to Alaska, Gallien notices that "his gear seemed exceedingly minimal for the harsh conditions of the interior... Alex's cheap leather hiking boots… and his rifle only .22 caliber, a bore too small to kill any large animals...he had no axe, no bug dope, no

Many disagree with this claim due to what he did to Ron Franz, a friend with whom he had a father-son relationship. As they both become close, Franz does not want to lose his relationship with McCandless as he did with the rest of his family and asks McCandless if he is willing to be adopted by him. Uncomfortable with the request, McCandless dodged the question: "We'll talk about it when I get back from Alaska, Ron" (55). While some may perceive McCandless as selfish and just concerned with his own pleasure, in actuality, he wishes to assist Franz. In the lengthy letter to Franz, McCandless writes, stating that "the joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon" (57). At this stage, McCandless notices that Ron Franz does not want to lose him and thinks of McCandless as his source of joy. McCandless wants to help him by consistent persuasion and advises him to change his lifestyle and explore the beauty of the world God bestows. He wants Ron to understand that these adventures would assist him in moving on from his tragic past. He teaches us that people should be kind and compassionate towards others, just as McCandless helped Franz confront his fears and live life to the fullest. Unlike the rest of the people he met on his journey, Chris implies later in the same letter that he wishes to reunite with Ron. This