Examples Of Existentialism In Into The Wild

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Michael Jasman Ms. Arencibia World Literature Period: 5 16 April 2014 McCandles Ultimate Freedom Through Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer demonstrates that young men raised in society want to define themselves. Defining oneself is something that is a common existential precept. Trying to define your life and be able to accept life for what it is and then continue to use the potential to become and define yourself is what Chris McCandles did in Into the Wild. An existentialist is one who is preoccupied only with the moment of awareness, a greater mindfulness, with only his senses at his disposal. According to Satre, human existence precedes essence, which leads to purpose, identity, and meaning. It was these three traits that Chris was in search for when he fled into the wild. Chris is in the existential mindset when he separates himself from everything, society and even his family to reach a level of nothingness in order to truly become a being. Chris never pondered on his future or wondered where this life would take him, which showed that had he had actually attained true presence in his state of mind. Chris, the tragic hero, in Into the Wild has come to the realization that existence is already being dead and accepting the fact that life is absurd, but also marvelous. An existentialist is one who has accepted that death is imminent and therefore to relish what you do have by living in the present. Life for an existentialist is purely lived in the moment and not in hopes or delusions. Understanding that life is bare and that there should not be foolery added to it as well as make a person envision that there is more to life. McCandles purely exists as a being with nothing else. Another existential principle that ... ... middle of paper ... ...ctually able to go out into the wild and experienced true happiness with his newly acquired ultimate freedom. His search for his purpose, meaning, and identity was getting more and more clear. Chris was actually able to have control over the wild, and not allow himself to be oppressed by society. McCandles was able to learn from the experiences of every person he met on his journey. He would try to tell anyone who would listen his views on life as well as listen to anyone else's views. Chris was developing his morals and ethics and was able to actually define himself as a human. He rid himself of the “false-being within” and reached a higher consciousness. Chris truly reached a level of nothingness when he gave up his scholarship, and was able to reach his full potential. Chris McCandles will always be a great inspiration of a existentialist and an extremist.

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