Essay On Chris Mccandless
An American figure is someone who portrays bravery, individualism, and is someone who strongly believes in the contentment within him or her before others. Also, many American tend to more future-oriented. Meaning, we as Americans believe in setting goals for ourselves, and working toward them. (What Are Major and Defining Characteristics of Americans? 2015”) In the book Into The Wild, the main character Chris Mccandless, known formerly as Alex Mccandless, shows the many characteristics of what it means to live as an American within the American Culture. However, there are also many ways McCandless show rebellion toward Americanism. Although overall the culture of America lives in uniformity, there are still many that like to show their uniqueness
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or in other words, what makes them different than the typical American. Although these people can become successful in showing their differences, most of the time he or she still wounds up being defined as an American. In my opinion, this was the ultimate goal of McCandless. McCandless’s ultimate goal was to apart himself from the American culture. Even though this was McCandless’s ultimate goal, he still died being known as “a profoundly American figure” Being born as an American gives us the right to liberty; America was built on the idea of freedom, which has primarily shaped the American culture. Being born into freedom gives us (Americans) the right to make a choice and to stand for or against the government. In this way, Mccandless showed very much of what it means to be an American. Although I believe Chris’s goal was to divert himself of the American culture, Chris’s tendency of rebellion and preference of individualism very much shows his American ways. As Americans, we know that we are free to rebel and to make our own choices. Although we may not realize the advantages freedom provides us with, it isn’t until we decide to rebel that make us realize those advantages. An American’s confidence reflects the way he or she lives each day. As an American we are confident in choosing our jobs, school, who we marry, etc. because we know we are free to do so. Most of the time, Americans are not comfortable with others making decisions for them because it takes away that sense of freedom and also shows their lack of confidence in being able to make his or her own decisions. McCandless shows his confidence throughout the entire book by rejecting the help of others, even it meant putting his self in danger “Gallien offered to drive Alex all the way up to Anchorage, buy him some decent gear; and then drive him back to wherever he wanted to go. “No, thanks anyway, Alex replied” (Krakauer, 6).
The most important value that almost every American holds is achievement and success.
Throughout life we are taught that achievement and success is essential to our happiness. Most Americans presume that achievement and success is presenting scholarliness and attaining good jobs; Many Americans are very focused on their careers. It seems to me that many Americans tend to be very focused on their careers for the same outcome, money. The value of money is very emphasized in the American culture, which is why we tend to be focused on our jobs and careers. However, Chris McCandless did not see money as a valuable possession. In fact, before going on his fatal journey to Alaska, he donated his entire college fund to a charity called OXFAM America, which was a charity dedicated to fighting hunger (Krakauer, 20). Ironically, Chris’s cause of death came from starvation. Chris’s willingness to give away his entire college fund before his journey exemplifies the differences in what he values vs. what Americans value. Chris values happiness also, however his happiness was not reliant on money, his happiness was reliant on the feeling of independence, which is also something American’s value. Chris’s urge to feel independent just happened to be more extreme than
usual.
Although Chris attended Emory University, a prestigious well-known college in Atlanta, it had nothing to do with attaining a career and becoming successful, it was more so because of attending college was the social norm in America. During his first year at Emory, Chris seemed to have been content. Like many Americans, success brings happiness. As Chris continued being a successful student at Emory, he remained happy, even boasting to some of his friends stating “I think my grades will be good enough to get into Harvard Law School” (Krakauer, 119). Although Chris was a successful in school, that was not his idea of what it meant to be happy, which explains why Chris began to change throughout school.
or in other words, what makes them different than the typical American. Although these people can become successful in showing their differences, most of the time he or she still wounds up being defined as an American. In my opinion, this was the ultimate goal of McCandless. McCandless’s ultimate goal was to apart himself from the American culture. Even though this was McCandless’s ultimate goal, he still died being known as “a profoundly American figure” Being born as an American gives us the right to liberty; America was built on the idea of freedom, which has primarily shaped the American culture. Being born into freedom gives us (Americans) the right to make a choice and to stand for or against the government. In this way, Mccandless showed very much of what it means to be an American. Although I believe Chris’s goal was to divert himself of the American culture, Chris’s tendency of rebellion and preference of individualism very much shows his American ways. As Americans, we know that we are free to rebel and to make our own choices. Although we may not realize the advantages freedom provides us with, it isn’t until we decide to rebel that make us realize those advantages. An American’s confidence reflects the way he or she lives each day. As an American we are confident in choosing our jobs, school, who we marry, etc. because we know we are free to do so. Most of the time, Americans are not comfortable with others making decisions for them because it takes away that sense of freedom and also shows their lack of confidence in being able to make his or her own decisions. McCandless shows his confidence throughout the entire book by rejecting the help of others, even it meant putting his self in danger “Gallien offered to drive Alex all the way up to Anchorage, buy him some decent gear; and then drive him back to wherever he wanted to go. “No, thanks anyway, Alex replied” (Krakauer, 6).
The most important value that almost every American holds is achievement and success.
Throughout life we are taught that achievement and success is essential to our happiness. Most Americans presume that achievement and success is presenting scholarliness and attaining good jobs; Many Americans are very focused on their careers. It seems to me that many Americans tend to be very focused on their careers for the same outcome, money. The value of money is very emphasized in the American culture, which is why we tend to be focused on our jobs and careers. However, Chris McCandless did not see money as a valuable possession. In fact, before going on his fatal journey to Alaska, he donated his entire college fund to a charity called OXFAM America, which was a charity dedicated to fighting hunger (Krakauer, 20). Ironically, Chris’s cause of death came from starvation. Chris’s willingness to give away his entire college fund before his journey exemplifies the differences in what he values vs. what Americans value. Chris values happiness also, however his happiness was not reliant on money, his happiness was reliant on the feeling of independence, which is also something American’s value. Chris’s urge to feel independent just happened to be more extreme than
usual.
Although Chris attended Emory University, a prestigious well-known college in Atlanta, it had nothing to do with attaining a career and becoming successful, it was more so because of attending college was the social norm in America. During his first year at Emory, Chris seemed to have been content. Like many Americans, success brings happiness. As Chris continued being a successful student at Emory, he remained happy, even boasting to some of his friends stating “I think my grades will be good enough to get into Harvard Law School” (Krakauer, 119). Although Chris was a successful in school, that was not his idea of what it meant to be happy, which explains why Chris began to change throughout school.