Into the Wild

In the novel "Into the Wild," written by Jon Krakauer, Chris McCandless, the main protagonist, part of a an upper-middle class family embarks on a spiritual journey into the wild,literally, without the basic so-called luxuries and problems he faces in his old life. Although some may view this journey as a naive teenager rebelling against norms, it is so much more than that if you look deeper into Chris' morals and personality. Chris meets people, animals, and scenery that reinvent his mind and perspective each day. The struggles and triumphs he goes through better his state of mind and revoke the reason to which why he left in the first place. Chris McCandles may have had it all on the surface to the naked eye, but his sudden flee from his family and hometown really meant more than being a rebellious teenager that wished to cause a scene. Leaving from his hometown of Atlanta, he wanted to escape and be "emancipated from the stifling world of his parents and peers, a world of abstraction and material excess" (22). Chris wanted to free himself of family problems, a materialistic lifestyle, and proceed on with a new perspective on the importance and true morals of life.
Some may consider this sudden journey naive or even stupid and spontaneous, but when you recognize Chris' high education and income levels, you have to realize he truly did want something different and awakening within his journey rather than hysteria from his family and peers. He had all the objects needed to succeed, but risked everything to fail venturing off into the wild. Even after reminiscing about Chris and his long journey ending in glorified death, his sister said he "academically, brought home A's, with little effort. Also his father,despite their large and controversial differences claimed he was "a gifted horn player" at a young age (110). People who receive straight A's and play complex instruments at a young age are usually not stupid at all. Once again, proving Chris had a future ahead of him and a mind of knowledge yet the wild and exploring landscape sounded more appealing to him then the routine life he had going for himself. Chris had his share of family issues lying beneath the surface of their beautiful home, reasons that would also cause one to flee and seek purity in life. Chris' relationship suddenly changed with his parents when he found out that his father still had a relationship with his ex-wife and "two years after Chris was born, Walt fathered another son" with Marcia, his ex-wife (121). This made Chris and his sister 'bastard' children. Something that Chris had once held true, had all been broken. After all even knowing Chris for just a small portion of his life, Mr. Franz insisted "[chris] did not take relationships lightly"(64). After learning this, He wanted to rid the pain with adventure and seek what things would bring him new-found joy. We need to realize Chris was always different from the start, from personality to troubles, he desperately needed a different future than most would hope for themselves. After Chris began his journey, he hiked into the desert and ended up in the Hot Springs. Here he met Mr. Franz, a once destitute and hopeless drinker, who now helped kids in order to fill his alcoholic void. One day, upon trying to make McCandles a part of this void by a speech, Chris interrupted him with confidence that "[he] had a college education. [He] was not destitute. [He was] living like this by choice." (50). Although Chris and Mr. Franz become friends after this deep talk, Chris still refused to live in Mr. Franz's apartment, thus showing his dedication to staying on his journey in nature. He did not need the hysteria from his parents to make him feel like he had done something rebellious. Chris would only go to Franz's in order to wash some clothes or cook raw meat safely and share his meals. All in all, they became great friends in the end, enjoying each other's companionship. Franz seemed like a father figure that Chris had never had when it came to Walt, his father. They both filled each others emotional voids by being friends and writing letters throughout their journeys. Franz and McCandles exchanged letters after they parted ways. In early April Ron Franz received a letter from South Dakota from Chris Mccandless illustrating his adventurous and positive journey after leaving civilization in which he states that "the joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun" (57). Although you can sense Chris' hurt in his letter, you also sense he has found pure joy in the wilderness being completely alone. He has found what he was searching for as soon as he departed for his trip. After discovering Chris' death, Mr. Franz was deeply saddened, he shared that he went atheist and "decided [he] couldn't believe in a God who would let something that terrible happen to a boy like Alex"(60). Alex, Chris' name while in the wild, had such a large effect on Mr. Franz he literally converted religions. That has to say something about how passionate Chris was about his journey and the morals it gave him, which he often shared with Mr. Franz. Chris was life-changing to a man he had only spoke the truth to and shared his journeys with. Chris started from a well privileged family that gave him all the material items needed to succeed. Yet, secrets and disconnections from his friends and family always felt present, he was an outcast from your typical teenager. He was well educated and intelligent, he could have done anything he wanted with his pristine college degree. Chris was always different from the start though, even gifted at a young age. He only remained in society so long until he could break free from the social norms. Chris disregarded all the precautions and dangers, he set free into the wild. Some may see it as a rebellious and naive thing to do, but if you look deep beyond the surface you will see a more true meaning. Chris was unhappy with an average life, material items, and family issues. He needed more, therefore he embarked on his journey to Alaska where he met people and animals that changed him forever. His spiritual journey let alone was life-changing not only to him, but his loved ones.