Chris Mccandless Legacy

“Almost everyone is obsessed with leaving a mark upon the world. Bequeathing a legacy. Outlasting death. We all want to be remembered. I do, too. That’s what bothers me most, is being another unremembered casualty in the ancient and inglorious war against disease.

I want to leave a mark” (Green 575). This quote by Augustus Waters, from The Fault in Our Stars, explains the want for remembrance by humans. Legacy’s are often lost after death. The stories of those who have passed away, often times receive more attention than those of whom have survived. While Chris McCandless’s inspiring story had a tragic ending, it influenced people all over the world to do the unknown. However, Augustus Waters, a handsome and funny, teenage boy with osteosarcoma,

did not get the same recognition. The significance of a person’s story has a more powerful impact after their death.
The idea of escaping reality and starting over is a concept many people dream of.

People may want to start their lives over, but prior responsibilities or commitments can demolish this dream. The young and adventurous character of Margo, from the movie Paper Towns, dropped all of her high school responsibilities to get away for her boring city. Margo states to the dull and monotonous character of Quentin, “You have to get lost before you find yourself.” Chris McCandless, the main character in the book Into the Wild, represented this same idea. Growing up, McCandless always had a passion for adventure. The drama that accompanied him and his family, was the biggest reason Chris left on his voyage to Alaska. Although Chris was young, and unprepared, his undeniable enthusiasm and positive attitude assisted him along his journey. Chris represents this idea in a letter he writes to the character of Ron Franz, in which he states, “The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure” (Krakauer 57). The characters of Margo and Chris both posses a desire for something more exhilarating in their lives, and make the changes necessary to achieve

it.
People who die in the process of following their dreams, often receive more recognition and appraisal than those who risk their lives and survive.

Chris McCandless, for example, died of starvation, but he achieved his goal of being alone in the wild. The lyrics, “Is it fast enough so we can fly away? We gotta make a decision, leave tonight or live and die this way,” from the song Fast Car by Tracy Chapman, proves the idea that if you do not follow your dreams, you will die having lived an unfulfilled life. Augustus Waters, however, was unable to complete his dream of leaving a mark on the world, but left a mark on those around him. The osteosarcoma, which took over much of Augustus’s body, prevented him from leaving a legacy, as he had planned. Augustus states, “If you don't live a life in service of a greater good, you've gotta at least die a death in service of a greater good, you know? And I fear that I won't get either a life or a death that means anything” (Green 643). Unfortunately, many people’s lives end before they have a chance to achieve their goals, like Augustus

Waters.
A person's death can change the way their story is viewed. For example, if Chris McCandless would have survived his adventure to Alaska, would he have received as much recognition as his story has now? The idea of death poses curiosity in many, as we feel we need to know all the details leading up to a person’s demise. Chris’s tragic story inspires many to this day. However, Krakauer in his book, Into Thin Air, talks about what it was like climbing Mount Everest, a voyage that he survived. Krakauer was hired by a magazine company to writer about Mount Everest. Krakauer decides to climb Mt. Everest in what will be the most disastrous Everest expedition in history. Krakauer survived this tragic event, but does not receive the same appreciation that McCandless does. The curiosity that comes with people’s death, make stories with a tragic outcome more influential in society than those with positive outcomes.
The characters of Augustus Waters, Margot Roth Spiegelman, Chris McCandless, and author Jon Krakauer all share similar stories, but have drastically different followings. While the death of Augustus Waters was a tragic event in the lives of those who knew him, his story did not necessarily inspire or receive recognition from those who did not know him. The free spirited and adventurous character or Margo disappeared from her old life to start over in a place where she was away from her past. Chris McCandless, a person whose story inspires people all over the world, receives the most attention due to his tragic death. Finally, Jon Krakauer, a survivor of a very dangerous expedition with a tragic outcome does not have the recognition he may deserve. The impact of a person’s story is affected by the outcome.