Into the Wild tells so much about the person Chris McCandless was, his story, and the tragedy of it all. But only a few chapters explain how he became the way he did and how it led him to do some of the things he did. He thought differently, worked at a different pace, and embraced life unlike any other. But, why? Many things in Chris’ life shaped him and made him the way he was before his tragic ending.…
The first reason why Chris McCandless fled to the wild was due to his literary influences. McCandless was influenced by many talented authors but some of his favorites were Jack London, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry Thoreau among many others. In a passage from To Build a Fire by Jack London he wrote, “‘ You were right , old hoss; you were right’... Then the man drowsed off into what seemed to him the most comfortable and satisfying sleep he had ever known” (12). The main protagonist from the story, acts a lot like Chris McCandless. They both ignored advice from wise people who were familiar with the area and what it had to offer. If they had just listened and…
Chris McCandless went into the wild to escape corrupt society. He also did it because he fell in love with nature through his readings of books by authors such as Charles Dickens and Jack London. “He didn’t appear to be very old eighteen, maybe nineteen at most.” (Krakauer p.3) Jim Gallien had said this when he first saw Chris. McCandless was still a young kid. Chris is crazy because at nineteen he wanted to do this when his parents…
The saddle has the markings “Chris-Cross” inscribed on it. This emphasizes the true nature of his reality. This can be shown by his descriptions to his cousin, Vanessa, about his “ranch” in Shallow Creek: the lake which is more like an inland sea, the house that is made out of trees, and the trees growing so tall with the leaves firm and green. Chris makes it sound as if he is living in a land of pure paradise. However, this turns out to be a great illusion. This is shown when Vanessa visited the ranch later on to find it to be an elderly shack made out of poles and chinked with mud, the numerous flies that would swarm about the food so it is incredibly hard to distinguish what food their was, and the supposedly fantastic lake that turns out to be a no shore, stretched, deep, and green-grey lake that goes beyond human sight. It is hardly the ranch that Chris previously describes it to be. Just as the saddle’s name, Chris Cross, which shows that Chris is living in the world of make believe. The reality of the poor life that he lives in is just too much for him to bear so he makes up a fantasy world not only to impress Vanessa; but, also in an attempt to keep him from falling into the pits of despair. For the reality of his life is truly the cross of Chris’ hopes and dreams. For the wonderful ranch he describes to Vanessa is a dream that he wishes to be true; but, the hard cross of that is the reality that his life at home, in Shallow Creek, is truly the green-grey lake that is by his…
Chris McCandless abandoned modern world and choose the wild because he believed that he can improve himself through living in the world, and finds the true happiness of the life. McCandless abandoned his wealthy family because his complicated relationship with his father, and he was ashamed with his father’s adultery. Therefore, McCandless believed that human relationship is not a thing that forms happiness, and the connection with nature brings joy as well. He also believed the habitual lifestyle was what people meant to do, and people shouldn't have more possessions than what they need. For this reason, McCandless travel with little effects. In addition, McCandless thought he can find the solution to his confusion with the adultery of his…
The documentary Return to the Wild debates the two very different argued reasons of why Chris McCandless went into the wild. The writers choose to uncover the dark secrets of the McCandless family and to reveal the truth as to why Chris travelled into the Alaskan wilderness. The documentary adopts an intense tone in the beginning that shifts to a more light hearted attitude throughout the second half of the film using symbolism, cinematography, audio, and various interviews in order to explain to the viewers the grim childhood McCandless experienced and events that led him into the barren wilderness of Alaska.…
The book “Into The Wild” tells the story of Chris McCandless and his journey and interactions with various people. Jon Krakauer the author wrote this book to show people what really happened so they could decide their own opinion of Chris McCandless and his story, instead of judging him on what the media said or critics or whoever. I personally think Chris was a nice smart person but didn’t make good decisions. One example of his bad decisions and the most prevalent one was is his decision to go live off the land with little or no supplies, Chris only brought the clothes on his back and other limited supplies such as cheap boots and a light coat. Another example is his refusal to accept help from people, had he actually took most of the things people offered him he would most likely survived and made it out in one piece living off the land. Those were just a few examples of his stubbornness and bad choices.…
Into the Wild tells the story of a Emory University graduate, Christopher McCandless, who leaves his middle class life in "pursuit of freedom from relationships and obligation" (Anderson-Urriola). On this journey, he gives up his home, family, all possessions but the few he carries on his back. He donates, what would've been his Harvard Law School tuition ($24,000) to charity and embarks on the search to find himself. McCandless embodies a true transcendentalist throughout his journey.…
What could be the purpose of Jon Krakauer writing the book “ Into The Wild”? The author, Krakauer who had a common interest with Chris McCandless, which was the love of the outdoors, the author may relate to Chris and reflect upon his life. Krakauer, who had traveled to Alaska in 1974, Alaska also happens to be the spot where McCandless went to in 1992. Krakauer sees his reflection upon McCandless because feels that he and McCandless are very alike they both have similar hobbies. Krakauer starts to see McCandless as himself a little,Krakauer wants to get McCandless’s story to the people because he feels like they are the same person because they are very identical and he wants the world to know what actually happened to him. Krakauer still wants to find the motive of why McCandless went into the wilderness . Krakauer till this day still loves talking about McCandless, he still does slideshows just to tell people his story. Krakauer argues to the fact that people call McCandless an idiot or a “bush” for leaving his home and trying to survive in the wild without proper materials that are needed. Krakauer's main purpose is to get McCandless’s story out to the people and he wants to motivate the young audience to always to do what their mind/heart wants them to do despite what the society thinks and to be happy they way they want to live their life the way…
Do you think buck would be able to rejoin man at some point in his future? Explain.…
“Am I better off dead, Am I better off a quitter” (The Script). The meanings behind these lyrics are very powerful and explain Chris’s journey almost perfectly. In Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Chris’s takes on a challenge that is potentially fatal and he has the courage to continue on with it. Chris’s journey is a series of risks he is willing to take to achieve his goal. He has to make life threatening decisions that he could have backed out on at any given time. Some see Chris as a psycho for embarking on this journey alone and burning or abandoning everything of worth, where as others see Chris as a hero for taking risks and having the courage to separate himself from society to make a point.…
To Chris McCandless and many others of his ilk like Henry Thoreau and Jack London,the wilderness of the west has a very specific allure. McCandless sees the wilderness as a purer state, a place free of the evils of modern society, where someone like him can find out what he is really made of, live by his own rules, and be completely free. Yet, it is also true that the reality of day-to-day living in the wilderness is not as romantic as he and others like him imagine it to be. Perhaps this explains why many of his heroes who wrote about the wilderness, for example, Jack London, never actually spent much time living in it.…
“S.O.S I NEED YOUR HELP. I AM INJURED, NEAR DEATH, AND TOO WEAK TO HIKE OUT OF HERE. I AM ALL ALONE, THIS IS NO JOKE. IN THE NAME OF GOD, PLEASE REMAIN TO SAVE ME. I AM OUT COLLECTING BERRIES CLOSE BY AND SHALL RETURN THIS EVENING. THANK YOU, CHRIS MCCANDLESS. AUGUST?” The novel Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer is about a young man named Chris McCandless. This individual, right after college had left in the pursuit of adventure and into the wilderness. He left without telling anyone, family and friends alike of his whereabouts and with small portions and little provisions. For this particular reason, some see McCandless as a misguided wacko who caused his own demise, while on the other hand some see him as noble, just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Chris McCandless is indeed noble! He possessed courage and ideals which I admired. He was noble for his self-reliance, being intellectual, and that he was not materialistic.…
“A madrigal of creaks and sharp reports-the sort of protest a large fir limb makes when it’s slowly bent to the breaking point-served as a reminder that it is the nature of glaciers to move, the habit of seracs to topple.” (139)…
Before Grimm, before Supernatural, and even before Wicked, there was one “reimagining of classic fairy tales with interwoven plots and grey scale characters” and that was Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim uses four familiar stories to set the scene for his overarching plot allowing him to concentrate on jokes and creating new relationships between old characters. He also uses familiar characters in ways that blend categories. Through much of act one every character is stock through and through, yet by the end of the play our dashing prince charming has become an unapologetic adulterer, and the wicked old witch becomes an anti-hero. In addition to plot and character Sondheim pays special attention to his musical numbers; just from the first number we understand the characters relationships to one another, their motivations (having children, going to the festival, visiting grandma, and not starving), and we’re introduced to the play’s key metaphor: the woods. While these aspects were vital to the performances success I will be concentrating on the diction and acting.…