Into The Wild Happiness Analysis

Happiness is found in unique ways, and people will do anything to find true happiness. In the novel Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer the complicated subject of true happiness is discussed and written about. People have different and specific ways of finding true happiness. For many family can decrease happiness, also not being in serious relationships and avoiding society can lead to an increase in happiness, finally connecting with nature can lead to happiness. For some, happiness is being connected with a society, but for others, disconnecting from relationships, society, and connecting with nature can lead to more happiness.

For many, family diminishes happiness. In Chris’s letter to his sister Carine he is explaining his frustration with

Chris explains in the letter why they are bringing him down and making him unhappy. Chris writes, “Since they won't ever take me seriously, for a few months after graduation I'm going to let them think they are right, I'm going to let them think that I'm ‘coming around to see their side of things’ and that our relationship is stabilizing. And then, once the time is right, with on abrupt, swift action, I'm going to completely knock them out of my life. I'm going to divorce them as my parents once and for all and never speak to either of those idiots again as long as I live. I'll be through with them once and for all, forever” (64). This statement explains his hatred for his parents, he talks about divorcing his parents and leaving them behind forever. The words he uses to describe his parents make me believe his parents are holding him back, and not making him as happy as he could be. For Chris disconnecting the relationship he has with his parents is what will make him happier in the end. Another example of this comes later on in the story. When Chris would talk about his parents to Kris Gillmer he would rant about his parents. Chris would discuss on why he

Chris has forgotten and left many people on his journey to avoid responsibility and connections with others, he is finally on his way north and has just abandoned Franz. Krakauer states, “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. He had fled the claustrophobic confines of his family. He’d successfully kept Jan Burres and Wayne Westerberg at arm’s length, flitting out of their lives before anything was expected of him. And now he’d slipped painlessly out of Ron Franz’s life as well” (55). This quote shows and lists most of the people and relationships McCandless has had along his journey. It talks about him disconnecting from the relationships he has had with all this people and how he seems to be relieved or happy to be disconnected with them. It shows that for McCandless not being connected to a society or having relationships and connecting with nature up north is going to make him much happier. After Chris’s abrupt departure from Franz, he decides to write a letter to him, in the letter he describes that one who wants to find the true light in himself and find more happiness, should disconnect with all relationships, society, and become one with nature. Chris writes, “You are wrong if you think Joy emanates only