The famous story of Chris McCandless’s journey, Into The Wild, provokes the reader to ask a certain question at the end of it all: Is Chris McCandless someone people should look up to? Or is he just another person who bit off a little more than he could chew? With various accounts from people who met this young man in the novel, it’s hard for someone not to show bias on this topic. Many viewed him as brave and heroic for his accomplishments; others viewed him as an unprepared, ignorant child who left a great life to escape his personal endeavors. Despite the criticism his journey and death have received, he has inspired many as the poster Chris McCandless chose a step that not many people would have taken after college. Most graduates choose to go into the workforce to find ways to utilize their degrees and potential, but McCandless chose to live off of the land. This decision inspired many people after his death including Marc Paterson who says, “I'm going to test my limits, I guess, to see what it's like to be hungry. I'm trying to put myself in an environment where nothing's spoon-fed” (Karlinsky). Marc Paterson and many others, by the hundreds, have claimed that they wanted to experience life in the wild as Chris McCandless did. They are all looking for a deeper meaning to life, and Marc Paterson explains that these journeys are merely people “Chasing a dream written down in the pages of a bestseller and now on screen in a movie called ‘Into the Wild’” (Karlinsky). Sherry Simpson, the writer of the article “I Want To Ride In The Bus Chris Died In” wrote about a man who drove her around the Fairbanks in a shuttle van. This man carried the book Into The Wild... ... middle of paper ... ...d. Goodbye and May God Bless All” (Krakauer 199). He found happiness, overcame the obstacles that were thrown at him, and gave everyone who is misunderstood and lost the ultimate gift, which is hope. Chris McCandless is truly a hero. Works Cited Christian, Peter. "Chris McCandless from an Alaska Park Ranger's Perspective." George Mason University, 2006. Web. 12 February 2012. Karlinsky, Neal. "'Into the Wild' Inspires Adventurers, but at What Cost?" ABCNews.com. ABC News Network, 15 October 2007. Web. 12 February 2012. Kleinfeld, Judith. "McCandless: Hero or Dumb Jerk?" Adn.com. The Anchorage Daily News, 16 December 2007. Web. 12 February 2012. Krakauer, Jon. Into the Wild. New York: Anchor, 1996. Print. Roberts, David. "Jon Krakauer + Sean Penn: Back Into the Wild." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 2007. Web. 12 February 2012.
The steps explained by Krakauer can be described not only as reckless but as arrogant and insensitive to those that live in Alaska. The messages sent to Krakauer by the people of Alaska show more examples of people who were anything but inspired by Chris McCandless. The Alaskan’s went as far as to say, “The only difference is that McCandless ended up dead, with the story on his dumbassedness splashed across the media” (Krakauer, 71). That same Alaskan continued, “Such willful ignorance… amounts to disrespect for the land, and paradoxically demonstrates the same sort of arrogance that resulted in the Exxon Valdez spill--” (Krakauer, 72). People all over have read Krakauer’s book and vouch for the inspirational tale it tells, because of the controversy this Chris McCandless’s story still brings today, it is obvious that there are people out there inspired by his story and journey. Many have even followed his lead by pulling what is sometimes referred to as “a McCandless”
How many individuals have gone to extreme lengths to reevaluate who they are as a person, to find their purpose? Christopher McCandless was an outrageous individual who was not afraid to push the boundaries, because of his dauntless behavior people questioned his sanity. Many people referred to Chris as a selfish person for not looking back when he decided to go into the wilderness. Christopher McCandless was not a selfish person because he has inspired many individuals to not be afraid and just go into the wild. Chris made an excellent choice by leaving; people dwell differently, on his journey he inspired many, and he hasn’t once took advantage of the opportunities he was given by those he come across in his journey. People didn’t agree with Chris’s decision to pack and leave. In chapter 8 of Into the Wild John Krakauer includes letters that he receives from people that did not agree, and believed that Chris was a selfish person Most of the letters that John Krakauer received were nasty and unnecessary; they were letters of individuals expressing their opinion on Christopher McCandless. “McCandless had already gone over the edge and just happen to hit rock bottom in Alaska.”(Jans) nobody deserves to die, especially not a horrific death like Christopher McCandless. Cristopher McCandless past because of starvation and possibly poisoned by a wrong plant he consumed. His decomposing body weighing only sixty seven pounds was discovered in the Alaska terrier inside a rustic old bus that was located twenty five miles west of Healy, and was used as a halfway boundary.. His body was discovered by a group of people, who rescued his body and found Chris. Those letters expressed the opinions of many; the people believed Chris was childish ...
In what could have been Chris McCandless’s last contact with humanity he tells his new comrade, Wayne Westerberg, “If this adventure proves fatal and you don’t hear from me again I want you to know you are a great man. I now walk into the wild” (Krakauer 3). For 112 days Chris lived off the harsh Alaskan land. For anyone who is brave enough to travel on the stampede trail and cross the treacherous Teklanika River you will come across the Fairbanks City Transit System Bus 142. Once a backcountry shelter for hunters, trappers, ranger patrols, and for a short time Chris McCandless, Bus 142 now serves as a memorial for Chris McCandless. Travelers will make the trip to witness the basic resources Chris had at hand and the courage it took to make it as far as he did into his journey. Chris was not unaware of the dangers of the Alaskan wilderness. He was fully informed of the challenges he would face and was confident, maybe even hubristic, that he could overcome them. Non Supporters would argue this makes Chris a fool, reckless, brash, or even border lined unintelligent while in fact it is quite the opposite. Chris was a hero because he knew his differences and embraced them, his ambition and strive for perfection took his life, and he followed his dreams no matter the cost.
Chris McCandless is regarded as being something as a spiritual figure almost as a cult hero, some call him a disillusioned fool, some call him a great adventurer, and the debate still continues. As Matthew Power calls in his article, an article where he tells the story of McCandless,“The debate falls into two camps: Krakauer's visionary seeker, the tragic hero who dared to live the unmediated life he had dreamed of and died trying; or, as many Alaskans see it, the unprepared fool, a greenhorn who had fundamentally misjudged the wilderness he'd wanted so desperately to commune with.” Like so many stories covering Christopher McCandless’ death, both ends of the argument are discussed in an unfavored manner in the hopes to help develop an opinion on the McCandless story. This open ended question can only be answered open-endedly based on what the readers base for themselves as covered stories intend. Like Power has done, ...
McKinley”( Author’s notes). Christopher McCandless wanted and eventually started a new life for himself in the wild, and no one heard from him or knew where he had went, not family not friends nobody. McCandless hitchhiked from Enderlin,North Dakota, Fairbanks, then to Alaska. Christopher McCandless was last seen by a guy named Jim Gallien on April
In April 1992, 24-year-old Chris McCandless decided to hitchhike his way north to the harsh lands of Alaska. After 114 days in the wild and losing touch with his family for more than two years, McCandless reached the end of his life. Chris's journey to Alaska inspired many people including author Jon Krakauer and director Sean Penn. In 1996 Krakauer publish a book, Into the Wild, following McCandless’s story to Alaska. Shortly after, a movie and a documentary based on Chris’s adventure were released. In all three mediums it was evident that Chris’s decision to hitchhike to Alaska was strongly based on his upbringing.
Many people have different views on the death of Chris McCandless and the actions he did that lead to his death. Some say McCandless is a legend as a result of people are still talking about him today. Others look at the whole McCandless story and just think, wow this kid must have been stupid. There are many people who countless views about McCandless, going out into the Alaskan Frontier ill prepared wouldn’t be my idea of a good time.
McCandless is a very independent person, a person with high hopes, that has a lot of courage, and is a very brave man for going out by himself in the wild of Alaska of the Stampede Trail. Chris McCandless had a lot of courage on going to Alaska by himself at a young age. While Chris was at any city or anybody’s house, he was ready to go to Alaska. But while he was there, close to the end of his life, he left a note on the back of the bus saying, “S.O.S I need your help. I am injured, near death, and too weak to hike out of here i am all alone, this is no joke. In the name of god, please remain to save me. I am out collecting berries close by and shall return by evening. Thank you, Chris McCandless. August?” Chris McCandless was by himself at the time. He shows his courage because while by himself, he went back out even though he was near death. He went out for food. Food for his health. That shows how much courage he had for his trip. Chris McCandless encouraged many young men to ...
Jon Krakauer, fascinated by a young man in April 1992 who hitchhiked to Alaska and lived alone in the wild for four months before his decomposed body was discovered, writes the story of Christopher McCandless, in his national bestseller: Into the Wild. McCandless was always a unique and intelligent boy who saw the world differently. Into the Wild explores all aspects of McCandless’s life in order to better understand the reason why a smart, social boy, from an upper class family would put himself in extraordinary peril by living off the land in the Alaskan Bush. McCandless represents the true tragic hero that Aristotle defined. Krakauer depicts McCandless as a tragic hero by detailing his unique and perhaps flawed views on society, his final demise in the Alaskan Bush, and his recognition of the truth, to reveal that pure happiness requires sharing it with others.
In John Krakauer’s novel Into The Wild, the reader follows the life of a young man who, upon learning of his father’s infidelity and bigamy, seems to go off the deep end, isolating himself by traveling into the wild country of Alaska, unprepared for survival, where he died of starvation at 67 pounds.
Christopher Johnson McCandless is a respectable man in so many ways but, yet such a foolish man in many others. Chris McCandless possessed a seemingly ever-lasting bravery that constantly shined through his unique and matchless character. He was very righteous in himself to the point in which he kept himself from any sin or evil, committing his life to what seemed like an idea of celibacy, not just in refraining from any desire of flesh but also in all lusts of life with his diligent power of will that constantly shined through his exterior. Onto the contrary of his good characteristics, McCandless remained to be very foolish in his decisions and under takings, whether it be by his arrogance of sheer narrow mindedness. Over all he was a boy of many talents and knowledge, with a bright soul and good heart but, still somewhere in the depths of his thoughts he lacked something that made him think things through, and in this his foolishness he would lose his life.
Chris McCandless was a graduate from college whose dream was to go into the Alaskan wilderness and live there to get an overall experience of living off the land. McCandless wanted to experience how to hunt and gather everything that he needed to live in the Alaskan Wilderness. However was it a good idea when Mccandless went into the wild. Many people on his adventure tried to help him by giving him some equipment or buy him some because he wasn't prepared for his adventure. After McCandless’s death to this date people would say that McCandless is an idiot or stupid for not being prepared for the Alaskan wilderness.
Was Chris McCandless deranged? Was he delusional? Or was he a hero? Since Chris’ body was found in bus 142 in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness, he has been called many things. Those who knew him believed that he wasn’t crazy; that his impulsive actions and aspirations to explore the world, were no more than the natural inclinations of a young and idealistic spirit. However, his desire to venture into the unknown with no source of human contact and nothing but a ten-pound bag of rice, is not considered normal behavior. Jon Kraukauer’s, Into The Wild, manifests how Chris McCandless’ antisocial demeanor, lack of remorse, and impulsive actions are directly relatable to behaviors associated with a sociopath.
Krakauer, Jon. Into the wild. New York: Anchor Books , a division of Random House Inc.,, 1997. Print.
...can be a life-changing experience. McCandless entered the wild as an overly confident hitchhiker and left as a self-accepting and humble man. He thought that human relationships were futile, he was impervious to materialism, and that he could understand nature on a scientific level. However, McCandless left the wild with a newfound appreciation for humanity, some clarity on his purpose in life, and the ability to create his own legacy. Many people finish reading Into the Wild and form negative opinions about McCandless’ reckless behavior. However, it is important to focus on how being in the wild brought McCandless closer to understanding himself. Into the Wild should motivate humans to participate in explore the wilderness to discover the true meaning of life.