Is Chris Mccandless A Realist Or A Narcissist

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Upon hearing the word “narcissist”, many people may come to mind--from the original Narcissus to celebrities, it is easy to characterize someone as narcissistic. However, the name Chris McCandless is extremely unlikely to be the primary response to this question. A determined and intelligent young adult, McCandless died in the Alaskan wilderness at just 24. A review of Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer mentions the unclear portrayal of McCandless being either an idealist or a narcissist. Yet, due to McCandless’ ambition and motivation, along with his ability to live life on his own terms, McCandless should be regarded a noble idealist rather than a reckless narcissist.

Like many other teenagers, since he was a child, McCandless’s life was dictated by predisposed expectations, from his education to sports he played. Nevertheless, McCandless disregarded these imposed commands, as he always made decisions for himself, refusing to conform to society. McCandless desired a truer reality, not enticed by all of the materialistic aspects of …show more content…

One with an intimate relationship with their family likely views McCandless as narrow minded and selfish. The intelligence, courage, and ambition of McCandless are often overlooked. McCandless, referred to as the “teenage Tolstoyan” (115), always displayed interest in entrepreneurship, but most importantly, McCandless always loved traveling, making solo endeavors as a teen. Thus, McCandless possessed enough intrepidity to embark on his journey. His only companions being rice, books, and clothing, McCandless was able to reach the sequestered Alaskan wilderness. It takes great courage to embark on a great journey with a small chance of success. A risk taken with good intentions resulted in an irrevocable adversity. Despite all of the calamities encountered, McCandless withstood the treacherous wilderness with great

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