Isolationism In Into The Wild

The book, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer and film by Sean Penn, tells a tragic and moving story about a man, who is highly educated and ready to start the rest of his life with a fulfilling and promising career, but embarks on a journey away from the confinement and security of society by Walking Into The Wild. He is not running away from his problems ,he is merely marching the path that just so happens to be in front of him, in hope to find himself without his possessions, money, or his status of his name, tying him down to anything to be absolutely free. Some would argue the value of the idea of isolation and how being completely alone is what killed him. He puts himself in isolation, but comes across many human relationships on the way to

Alaska and through his solitude he found the true meaning behind all the human relationships he has formed and the ones he left behind.
Lets look back on some of the most tremendous Human achievements and how a mind in solitude has played a part in some of these advancements. “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind” (Einstein, N.D.). Albert Einstein, one the most credible and intelligent scientist in human history whose discoveries, theories, and advancements are still to this day are making a colossal impact on the bright minds of our generation. In this quote he states that creativity is stimulated from a solitary standpoint. Where no one can impede on your ideas and thoughts in isolation and without the limitations of others. “The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil.” (Edison, N.D.). Your mind is most open and most creative when you are by yourself. It’s not that you don’t think outside the box already, it’s that you are free from distractions from outside influence. You start to think inside, outside, around, behind the box and come up with things you would never even think of if someone else was around saying that this idea is bad or this idea is good. People may bring new ideas to the table, but most come from a calm and solitary mind.
Many amazing writers and poets came from a solitary background, whether they grew up alone and wasn’t a part of the social norm. They often felt more themselves and can write and think more freely and openly. "I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude. We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad among men than when we stay in our chambers" (Thoreau, N.D.). Henry David Thoreau was an acclaimed writer and poet, you might think of this quote that he himself preferred the freedom the solitary confinement, letting his thoughts run freely and flow within his mind without the constraints others might impede on the process. He finds it to be more accommodating to befriend solitude and is a better friend than those that we surround ourselves everyday. “
People realize how precious they hold something and how bad they want it, only after it is gone and they want back.

It is from solitude that we find the value of human relationship. "He was motivated by the idea that happiness is only real when shared, and decides to return home because he has no one to share it with in the wild" (Suhar, 2011). Zak finds that when Chris finds his demises in the Alaskan Wild he want to return home to his family when he knows he no longer can, at the very end it is taken away and he finds the meaning of relationships, which would have never been found with the help of solitude. Zak continues to say "Formerly discontent with society and its surroundings, Chris later believes that, “the joy of life is all around us, people just need to change the way they look at things.” (Suhar, 2011). He elaborates and takes the words from Chris saying that he found that happiness comes from the people we surround ourselves with and it’s all about how you look at life and not how life looks at you. It is because Chris chose to be solitary from the rest of the world he was able to have the most free mindset that he has ever had in his life and discovered many things about himself and how he looks at life in

general.
Many could argue that Chris McCandless' adventure, he didn't need to do it solitary. If he didn't it without being absolute solitude he might have made it and would have lived. But to live without finding the true meaning of human relationships and that sharing moments with one and another is true happiness and it’s all about how you look at the big picture and not what the big picture is. Life would have been dull so Chris McCandless solitude is what gave him the most valuable thing his life.