Chris Mccandless Journey

A Chance at Life Sometimes in life you need to take risks to achieve what you want. Some may have to jump through hoops, while others get any easy shot at the prize. We are all aiming for the same goal, and in hope for similar things. I have become one in the herd, slowly moving towards what I believe is the American dream. In the novel Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakauer, Chris McCandless pursues his own idea of the “American dream”. He abandoned his vehicle, family, money, home and possessions to embark on a journey different than any other. Chris McCandless after graduating from Emory University as a top student of his class, had finally satisfied his parents wishes. However, for Chris the graduation meant nothing but good bye to his old ways. The life that he had once lived, will no longer exist. He would go by a new name Alex. A nomad with a dream to get to Alaska. Chris’s journey took him to various new places, creating new bonds with people from various different positions in

Chris was bitter at his family life. Angry that his parents had lied to him his whole life,he resented them and perhaps they were the reason for his odyssey. Although, McCandless set out alone on his journey he met many people along the way to provide him comfort. Surprisingly, this is the case. Looking at the statement made by the author in the novel, “McCandless was thrilled to be on his way north, and he was relieved as well—relieved that he had again evaded the impending threat of human intimacy, of friendship, and all the messy emotional baggage that comes with it”(Krakauer). This quote illustrates McCandless’s contempt for anything emotional and his wish to isolate himself from family and friends, whose closeness challenges his wish for separation. He describes any form of intimacy as “messy,” escaping before anything is asked of