Transcendentalist Journey Essay

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A Journey for Fulfillment In Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild, Christopher McCandless gives up all his material possessions to seek fulfillment in the Alaskan Wilderness. In doing this, Chris is able to escape from his parents and live the life of many transcendentalists that he’s read about. As John Muir once said, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” Like John Muir, Chris has developed such a profound love for nature that he is called into the wild by it. Ultimately, Chris’s life decisions are a fascinating paradox that make him both a transcendentalist hero and a fool. Chris grew up reading the likes of Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Jack London. From these authors, Chris got his inspiration to lead the life of a transcendentalist. Chris became a transcendentalist by developing a closeness to nature, by practicing individualism, and by disregarding materialism. Ever since Chris was a transcendentalist, he enjoyed the serenity of being alone by …show more content…

Nothing is more heroic than completing your journey of experiencing the wild for yourself. Certain transcendentalists may have similar views, but each transcendentalist hero has their own personal journey. “Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves” (Thoreau Walden). Chris truly found happiness and meaning in his life the most while being a hitchhiker, a hobo, and an adventurer. Chris took risks and was a rebellious spirit. He was never contempt with comfortability. "So many people live within unhappy circumstances & yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of SECURITY, CONFORMITY and CONSERVATISM, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind. But in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit of a man than a secure future....” (Krakauer 58). Chris didn’t put his life on hold, he took the risks and went for his dreams. He’d rather be happy than have security in his

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