“Happiness is only real, when shared” (McCandless), Chris’s final thoughts before his death, which taught him of life. Chris McCandless left his materialistic world for a nomadic lifestyle, leaving behind his possessions and family without notice. What could have influenced Chris to leave his lifestyle for a nomadic life? Although Chris was a stupendous student and came from a high middle class family, Chris experienced a combination of internal and external forces that influenced his leave from a materialistic society without notice because he had a much stronger belief that didn’t involve all of the privileges granted to society, rather he had to leave for alaska.
An internal force that affected Chris was his philosophical beliefs that
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influenced him to leave behind a materialistic lifestyle for a nomadic life. “He didn’t seem interested in the money so much as the fact that he was good at making it. It was like a game, and the money was a way of keeping score” (120-121). Chris had been a excellent business man, but to him money was nothing more than a piece of paper. For this very reason Chris did not want money to define his life and that is why he seeked out Alaska as a place to escape this materialistic world that we live in. Thus, Chris’s philosophical belief that using wealth as a basis to live and judge people by was a contributing factor to his leave. Christopher McCandless had also experienced family problems that contributed to his external forces for which he left his ideal life.
Chris had always had the idea that his parents had tried to purchase his affection for them. “I’m going to have to be real careful not to accept any gifts from them in the future because they will think they have bought my respect”(21). Always Chris’s parents had tried to purchase something for him, yet they would ignore what he had to say. As well Chris’s father, Walt, had been caught living a double life in which he had a secret life between two households, one with his former wife and another with his current wife Chris’s mother. When Chris visited El Segundo and learned about his father’s overwhelming episode in all of its painful detail, causing Chris to feel great deal of resentment because of his father. “If something bothered him, he wouldn’t come right out and say it. He’d keep it to himself, harboring his resentment, letting the bad feelings build and build” (122). Chris couldn’t cope with his parents trying to buy his affection and respect as well with the resentment and believed that Alaska could be a fresh …show more content…
start. Chris had experienced a great deal of emotional damage that was presented as an internal force. From his father’s youth Chris would reflect on and fixate on his father’s less than admirable behavior and denounce him as a self-righteous hypocrite. Thus, because Chris could not pardon his father’s mistakes Chris continued to feel resentment and soon he could not contain his feelings and would burst. A way to release his feelings was for Chris to leave the materialistic world he currently lived in and dropping everything for a place of nomadic life. Chris also found that he didn’t have to bear the trauma he felt he experienced when living his old life and decided he can be a new person and that to him was, “Alexander Supertramp”. Therefore, Chris beard a new name and believed with that his freedom from the emotional damage could be found in Alaska. Christopher had experienced an internal force that motivated his philosophical belief, nobody will tell him what to do. When Chris had a plan set out he would follow through with it and the ideas and opinions of others couldn’t contradict his goal. Therefore, when his parents pressured him into attending college he had viewed them as unreasonable tyrants. “Chris didn’t like being told what to do. I think he would have been unhappy with any parents; he had trouble with the whole idea of parents” (115). Chris couldn’t accept attending college and viewed it as a “waste of time and money” and would have rather begun his own path. That was reason for Chris to drop everything after his college graduation to set in motion his nomadic lifestyle. Although, Chris could have left for the wild because he had a mental illness that could contribute to why he would leave without notice or for a true cause.
Few may believe that Chris must have had a mental illness because what could cause a college graduate with a high cumulative transcript and bright career ahead to just drop everything for nothing. This though is not true because Chris was a determined individual who couldn’t be influenced to change once his mind was set on a goal. “...but when I suggested he work on the faps in his game he refused to listen” (111). Chris is an individual that doesn’t base people off their life, but rather by their work. That is why Chris thought Alaska as a true testament to not only his emotional and philosophical freedom, “an activity that rewards will and determination more than finesse or cunning”
(111). To Conclude, Christopher McCandless had experienced a combination of internal and external forces that influenced him to become nomadic and leave behind his materialistic life. The contributing involved philosophical beliefs of what life should be like, family problems between him and his parents, and emotional damage caused from resentment and a buildup of emotion. Therefore, Christopher was influenced to go into the wild.
Before going to Alaska, Chris McCandless had failed to communicate with his family while on his journey; I believe this was Chris’s biggest mistake. Chris spent time with people in different parts of the nation while hitchhiking, most of them whom figured out that McCandless kept a part of him “hidden”. In chapter three, it was stated that Chris stayed with a man named Wayne Westerberg in South Dakota. Although Westerberg was not seen too often throughout the story, nevertheless he was an important character. Introducing himself as Alex, McCandless was in Westerberg’s company for quite some time: sometimes for a few days, other times for several weeks. Westerberg first realized the truth about Chris when he discovered his tax papers, which stated that “McCandless’s real name was Chris, not Alex.” Wayne further on claims that it was obvious that “something wasn’t right between him and his family” (Krakauer 18). Further in the book, Westerberg concluded with the fact that Chris had not spoken to his family “for all that time, treating them like dirt” (Krakauer 64). Westerberg concluded with the fact that during the time he spent with Chris, McCandless neither mentioned his
Burres said "I thought Alex had lost his mind when he told us about his 'great Alaskan odyssey, ' as he called it” (Krakauer 45). "Alex is a nut in my book, wrote a resident of Healy” (Krakauer 71). "why would anyone intending to 'live off the land for a few months, ' forget Boy Scout rule number one, be prepared. Why would any son cause his parents and family, such permanent and perplexing pain?" (Krakauer 71). There were many more people that thought Chris was a reckless idiot, but there were also many people that didn 't think Chris was a reckless idiot, and instead thought that Chris was Intelligent and brave. There were many people that Chris met during his travels, and was able to truly touch their hearts and change their lives forever. Jim Gallien, Wayne Westerberg, Jon Krakauer, Walt McCandless, Billie McCandless, Carine McCandless, Charlie, Ronald Franz, and Jan Burres were some of them. Chris knew these people in life or met them before the great Alaskan odyssey. Chris definitely made an impact in all these people 's lives and these people probably wouldn 't call Chris a reckless idiot, but instead would call Chris intelligent and courageous. One of the people that Chris met Before the Alaskan trip that really stuck out was Ronald
Chris was unique compared to others, but he was not insane in any sense of the word. He led a journey to Alaska based on emotional reasons and motivations. Chris went into the wild looking for freedom and answers to his questions. Ultimately, Chris found what he was looking for emotionally and went to leave the wild, but in an unfortunate turn of events and a lack of preparedness, Chris mistimed his departure and was stuck in the wild. Eventually, because of his lack of local knowledge and resources, Chris never left the Alaskan wilderness
According to the book Into The Wild and Chris’s parents “there was always a little wanderlust in the family, and it was clear early on that Chris had inherited it” (108). Billie’s dad Loren Johnson and Chris both loved the wildlife, Loren was charmed by Chris and Chris adored his grandfather When Chris was eight Walt took him on a mountain climbing trip where he carried his own backpack, hiking the mountains became a father-son tradition. While on his trip to Alaska many people that he meet offered him stuff so he could survive there but he would always deny their offer. One person that had offered him rice did not accept a “no” so Chris was forced to take it. The last person to see Chris on his journey was a union electrician called Jim Gallien. Jim was on his way to Anchorage, Jim thought Chris was crazy to think he could survive in the forests of Alaska, but Chris’s love for nature and his adventurous spirit were too strong to fear all the warnings people kept telling him. From just these few things that Chris was introduced to made him love the wild and he became
In one the passage was highlighted in the book “Family Happiness” that Chris brought with, the author Leo Tolstoy talked about how a person's life should be. “I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence. … which found no outlet in our quiet life.” (p.15) Tolstoy explained how a life should be excited and interesting not just living day by day without any enjoyment. Chris followed his beliefs. He believes that he should live a life that he would not regret later on. That could be one of his reason he was going into the wild to make an excited life. Another passage was also found with McCandless’s belongings is from Henry David Thoreau’ “Walden”. “All nature is your congratulation, and you have cause momentarily to bless yourself. … a segment of the rainbow which I have clutched.” (p.47) This passage explains the fact that happiness can found in nature. McCandless wanted to found his purpose of his life and Thoreau stated about the importance of the nature. And McCandless believed Thoreau. If Chris McCandless had believed some authors, he would follows that in his whole
Was Chris McCandless deranged? Was he delusional? Or was he a hero? Since Chris’ body was found in bus 142 in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness, he has been called many things. Those who knew him believed that he wasn’t crazy; that his impulsive actions and aspirations to explore the world, were no more than the natural inclinations of a young and idealistic spirit. However, his desire to venture into the unknown with no source of human contact and nothing but a ten-pound bag of rice, is not considered normal behavior. Jon Kraukauer’s, Into The Wild, manifests how Chris McCandless’ antisocial demeanor, lack of remorse, and impulsive actions are directly relatable to behaviors associated with a sociopath.
... every aspect of his life whether it be his education, physical endurance, or making it through the Alaskan wilderness with nothing more than a rifle, a backpack, and a road map. Chris was aware of his differences and that he did not fit into society. He fully embraced that and and chose to lead his own path. Chris led a happy life according to one of his last journal entries he wrote, “I have had a happy life and thank the lord. Goodbye and may God bless all!” (Krakauer 199). Chris was willing to risk everything to gain that happiness. His ambition to enter the wilderness, in the end, took his life but that did not stop him. He would have rather died a happy man than lived a miserable one. Chris ventured out into the wilderness and found himself; a tragic story for a tragic hero.
Chris McCandless does not wish to follow defined life structure that society enforces to simply be alive, instead, he chooses to take a seek a path to live a life with purpose. Such an eagerness to seek detachment from what is expected by society, is enforced by not only McCandless but also Thoreau. A primary factor resembling this, is McCandless’ view that many people “live within unhappy circumstances...yet will not change…they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism...damaging to the adventurous spirit(40).” The detesting tone risen through the confliction of “unhappy circumstances” and “damage,” to “safety, conformity and conservation,” emphasis his will to separate from a lifestyle lacking change. This is done
To begin with, McCandless’s decision to walk into the wild was acceptable because he wanted to become an inspiration and an individual. Emerson states, “There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance: that imitation is suicide” (Emerson). Chris McCandless left to shun the conformist society that he could feel changing him. Chris wanted the chains that bound him to be broken. Society takes the individual and locks it up and destroys it. According to Emerson, “It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion: it is easy to in solitude to live after our own: but the great man is he who in the midst of the crow keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude” (Emerson). McCandless left his materialistic family to be his own person ad to be unique. The world’s opinion does not make the man wh...
Some of the views on the death of Chris McCandless are harsh and some people call him insane or psychotic, while others think the exact opposite and think that Chris just might be a legend. “When you consider McCandless from my perspective, you quickly see that what he did wasn’t even particularly daring, just stupid, tragic and inconsiderate” (Christian). Considering that Chris was ill prepared, Peter Christian thinks that what Chris did wasn’t the smartest thing to do and this is why he thinks Chris’s choice to venture into the Alaskan wilderness was dumb. In addition, Craig Medred also happens to think Chris might have been insane. “Almost every p...
When Chris left for his journey he wasn’t crazy or stupid as many would say. “McCandless went into the wilderness not primarily to ponder nature or the world at large, but rather to explore the inner country of his own soul” pg. 183. The fact that Chris never bother to discuss his Alaskan walk about with his anyone especially his parents wasn’t intentional. However throughout the whole book it was made very clear that he was at odds with his parents in some way to go off on his journey but he didn’t want to hurt them, which I think Walt and Billie finally realized visiting the bus where Chris had passed. I think Chris just wanted to get away from his everyday life, clear his mind, a mind that didn’t involve the worries of expectations and the thoughts of his parents hanging on his shoulders.
He wanted to get away from all the materialistic world and find himself. Chris never felt that he fit in at Emory. He was not one to brag about his family’s wealth nor did he care for it, “Chris started complaining about all the rich kids at Emory”(page 123). Even before his big Alaska trip, McCandless had taken small trips here and there, he did not know what was going to happen, but he was an advertorials guy and he just wanted to have fun while he can. He wanted to make up for the time that was lost during his teenage years because he blames his dad infidelity for making his childhood so terrible, “He later declares to Carine and others that the deception committed by Walt and Billie made his ‘entire childhood seem like a fiction’”(page 123). Chris just wanted to be happy, he wanted to find his life whether it was going into the wild or not, surviving or not, he just wanted to find himself. According to Maia Szalavitz Why the Teen Brain IS drawn to Risk, she states, “ … teens tend to wildly overestimate certain risks …”(page 1) and that is what Chris did, he had too overconfident in himself and did not think this trip thoroughly because he did not pack all the necessities not did he accept gear or tools that people would offer him along the way He knew the consequences that he would eventually face and instead of preparing for them he decided to ignore them. Maybe if he had a map,
The settings in the story have impacts on the theme of young manhood. Chris leaves his family and decides to go on a journey to find a new life. Christopher felt affected in his family presence so he sends his final school report to his family: “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,55). He believes that this is a way to find his true identity and peace of mind, which he thought could be achieved by fleeing into the wild. Chris seemed to have a bad relationship with his parents, especially with his father because Chris found out that he had a child with his first wife when Chris was born. This fact is revealed by his dad’s old neighbour, “Walt’s split from his first wife, Marcia, was not a clean or amicable parting. Long after falling in love with Billie, long after she gave birth to Chris, Walt continued his relationship with Marcia in secret” (Krakauer121). Chris knew about his father’s affair with another woman and this made it easier for Chris to not care about what his family has to say ...
McCandless’s utter repugnance for his parents caused something to snap within him resulting in his desire to remove them from his life, thus becoming free of their demands, judgments, and inquisitions. Krakauer explains; “Children can be harsh judges when it comes to their parents, disinclined to grant clemency, and this was especially true in Chris’s case" (122). The standards some parents set for their children are often unattainable and often come from a place of their own failures and shortcomings. In McCandless’s case, this is exactly what happened. Walt and Billie had demanded so much of Chris physically, academically, and morally, that when he was made aware of their i...
Sometimes a character may be pushed over the edge by our materialistic society to discover his/her true roots, which can only be found by going back to nature where monetary status was not important. Chris McCandless leaves all his possessions and begins a trek across the Western United States, which eventually brings him to the place of his demise-Alaska. Jon Krakauer makes you feel like you are with Chris on his journey and uses exerts from various authors such as Thoreau, London, and Tolstoy, as well as flashbacks and narrative pace and even is able to parallel the adventures of Chris to his own life as a young man in his novel Into the Wild. Krakauer educates himself of McCandless’ story by talking to the people that knew Chris the best. These people were not only his family but the people he met on the roads of his travels- they are the ones who became his road family.