Similarities Between Chris Mccandless And Jon Krakauer

Into The Mind of Chris McCandless And Jon Krakauer

Many people decide to live their lives alone. However, just a handful opt to live in the wilderness. Jon Krakauer's book, "Into the Wild," describes Chris McCandless' adventurous journey. Despite his travels, McCandless is described as a warm, outgoing, and kind guy, from the friends and coworkers he made to the difficulties he faced. Other than McCandless, many others have chosen to live and risk their lives. Almost everyone can identify with the desire to travel entirely alone into the woods, away from the poisonous routine and materialism of daily life, and into an environment where your passion determines life or death. This was the reality for Christopher McCandless and Jon Krakauer.

Krakauer picked three people who all wanted to forge their paths and live their lives in a primitive, adventurous way. These three characters were Gene Rosellini, John Waterman, and Carl McCunn. He associates them with McCandless for several reasons. These people all traveled to the wilderness to live their lives to the fullest and uniquely. Jon Krakauer also made these parallels to show how each of these people had mental or physical problems, as well as psychological or physical weaknesses This is one of many ways Krakauer exploits comparison in his story. For instance, evidence demonstrates this. “Like Rossellini and Waterman, McCandless was a seeker and had an impractical fascination with the harsh side of nature. Like Waterman and McGunn, he displayed a staggering paucity of common sense.”(Krakauer 85) This evidence shows a strong connection between Chris’s endeavors in the wild and these three other characters. In addition, Waterman's parents' divorce profoundly impacted him, just as McCandless struggled to deal with his familial ties. Ruess' letters were similar to those sent by McCandless while traveling, and Rosselini matched, if not surpassed, McCandless' intellect, nevertheless Krakauer's goal was to convey to readers that there were many other people out there who followed Chris' route or shared the same

He uses this to explain how, after graduating from college, Chris McCandless donated all of his money to an anti-hunger group called Oxfam America. This is ironic since Chris would eventually die in the wild from a similar tragedy. It's also ironic that Chris McCandless fought so hard to go to Alaska’s wilderness, only to die there. Chris endured a great deal to come to Alaska, and he worked tirelessly, but his stubbornness ultimately caught up with him. Furthermore, the irony was demonstrated in Chapter 4 because, despite his situation, Chris maintained a cheerful attitude, for example, “Malnutrition and the road have taken their toll on the body. Over 25 pounds lost. But his spirit is soaring”. (Krakauer 37) This piece of evidence will help the readers get to know who Chris was because he remained upbeat throughout his excursions. He had shed 25 pounds but was still in good spirits. He chose to see the bright side because he was truly living his dream. Another literary device Krakauer included was, Krakauer tells the narrative of Chris McCandless' survival throughout his quest into the wild through flashbacks. For instance, the third chapter describes how Chris McCandless works in Carthage. Krakauer saves the rest of the narrative