Preview

Chris Mccandless Influence

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
791 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Chris Mccandless Influence
Jon Krakauer wrote a book called Into the Wild where he described how Chris McCandless lived a risk-taking yet adventurous life. Also all the things McCandless experienced while on his journey to Alaska and all the great people he met along the way. There have been many speculations, however, on why Chris really went into the wild. Some may believe that McCandless went into the wild to escape a toxic relationship with his parents, but the real reason he left everything behind was due to his literary influences as well as his philosophical beliefs.
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
…show more content…
Also many people argued that McCandless was suffering from a mental illness probably like depression, however, there has been no evidence given that Chris was actually suffering from this. A third thing is that there is no doubt that Chris McCandless did not have a bound with his parents, he did not spend a lot of time with them, but have people considered the fact that Chris did not want to become like his parents, the type that have to work all the time and the type that do not have time to do anything else but

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    “He possessed grand-some would say grandiose- spiritual ambitions. According to the moral absolutism that characterises McCandless’s beliefs, a challenge in which a successful outcome was ensured isn’t a challenge at all” (182). Mr. Callarman was right that Chris McCandless made a lot of mistakes based on ignorance, but McCandless was not crazy. McCandless had simply caught the wanderlust fever that has been slowly sweeping across the United States’ young adult culture. McCandless went into Alaska not to prove himself to anyone, but to find himself in a place that was almost completely untouched.…

    • 432 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Chris Mccandless

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages

    When Chris left “the Cave” of his former family life, he discovered many things. The first of these, and probably the most important or significant is that it was possible for him to survive without the wealth and comforts he had grown up with.…

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    into the wild

    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages

    April 9, 2013 Into the Wild Essay “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.…

    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    chris mccandless

    • 633 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Mcnally1 Lauren McNally Mr. Humes English 11 (2) 26 May 2014 The Legend Who was Chris McCandless? Some say that he is a legend and others say that he was nothing more than a boy who threw away his future. Is the only one to blame for his own death? McCandless was the type of kid who always questioned things; he desired to know more but refused to work for the answers. In elementary school, McCandless was placed in accelerated classes but because he was so stubborn he refused to listen to the teachers and do the extra work. All in hopes that he would convince his teachers he was not smart and he would be taken out of the accelerated classes. McCandless rarely planned or prepared for the future, causing him to be unprepared for his journey into the Alaskan wilderness. He traveled into the wilderness because he wanted to discover what was missing from his normal life. Through his journey he realized that true happiness is when you share experiences with others. Unfortunately he discovered this too late into his journey and when he tried to return back to civilization his route was flooded. He soon ran out of food which inevitably leads to his death.…

    • 633 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    I agree with the main point that Shaun Callarman states, "Chris McCandless was ignorant, but bright at the same time", by leaving his family and his education, he committed himself towards a life of solitude and emptiness. McCandless was not only ignorant, but he was arrogant about changing his lifestyle, he even had the nerve to leave his family behind without any notification about his departure. By leaving his family and his education, McCandless had committed himself towards a life of solitude and emptiness. McCandless was not only ignorant and careless, but he was arrogant about changing his lifestyle, he even had the nerve to leave his family behind without any notification about his departure. For a boy that was an intelligent High School graduate who was going to succeed in life, McCandless had made one of the most idiotic decisions ever, and that was leaving his success and family behind to die in the wild by a potato plant.…

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    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…

    • 750 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Into the Wild

    • 1043 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In Jon Krakuer's novel Into the Wild, the main character, Chris McCandless, seeks nature so that he can find a sense of belonging and the true meaning of who he is. However, it is the essence of nature that eventually takes his life away from him. At the end of his life, he is discovers his purpose and need of other people. After Chris McCandless death in Alaska, Krakuer wrote Into the Wild to reflect on the journey that McCandless makes. Krakuer protrays McCandless as a young man who is reckless, selfish, and arrogant, but at the same time, intelligent, determined, independent, and charismatic. Along with the irony that occurs in nature, these characteristics are the several factors that contribute to McCandless death.…

    • 1043 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Christopher McCandless was a young college graduate, who gave up everything to go live in the wild. Many people believe that McCandless was crazy and ignorant, others like Jon Krakauer, the author of Into the Wild believe otherwise. I agree with the author that Christopher McCandless wasn't a crazy, a sociopath, or an outcast, because he got along with many people very well, but he did seem somewhat incompetent, even though he survived for a long period of time.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote “With people like us our home is where we are not … No one person is necessary to you or me,” (This Side of Paradise). This quote describes how some people can become consumed with a feeling called wanderlust, or the overwhelming feeling of needing to travel to new places. In his nonfiction book “Into The Wild” (1996), Jon Krakauer constructs Chris McCandless’ character into that of an wanderlusting alter ego. Krakauer completes this idea by implying throughout chapter three that Chris McCandless was idealistic with his nonconformist philosophy, unprepared for hardships before he disappeared, and by indicating McCandless had a secret sociopathic nature. He illustrates rhetorical devices in order to give insight into why McCandless’ death was important, and to crucially build his character. Krakauer aims his book towards an audience who is interested in exploring or adventuring, or anyone McCandless-esque who may aspire to pull off a stunt like lone traveling to Alaska with no money or supplies.…

    • 586 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Chris McCandless was a person who every parent would dream of having. He majored in many subjects and graduated with his high honors, but you wouldn't think expect his next step after graduation. In April of 1992, he packed up his bags, abandoned everything he had, and gave the rest of his savings to charity, to go on a journey to Mt. McKinley to start his new life. The story, “Into the Wild” was powerful how Jon Krakauer style of writing made Chris McCandless’s Adventures seem real and even pop out of books to the readers. Krakauer uses many stylistic devices/techniques in order to reveal his tone about Chris McCandless.…

    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Chris Mccandless

    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages

    McCandless early year of his life was abusive and unsettling because his father abused him in many ways that only siblings and he can explain. His father also had another family and impacted McCandless. McCandless could express it. Growing up, his family wanted the best for him. His parents believed that they could buy his respect. McCandless thought other. Overall, Chris McCandless’s childhood wasn’t the best. His journey was the highlight of his life until it came to the end. He was poisoned and suffered for many days with an illness of starvation and was barely able to stand up. During his last days, Chris McCandless writes, “‘I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL!’” (Krakauer 199). Chris McCandless finally opened eyes to see what he had in front of him because he realized that his family did care for him and that the people he met along the way gave him happiness, but was too much of a fool to realize. Another most obvious reason for Chris McCandless being a fool for him leaving his life. He left his family, money and career behind to go chase his goal to Alaska. It was awfully nice of him to donate his money to charity, but he lost everything he…

    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    McCandless the main character “Into The Wild” is a reckless and selfish human being. In the novel it states that “his family had no idea where he was or what had become of him until his remains turned up in Alaska.” He made his parents suffer not knowing where their son was at. Chris McCandless actions was clearly a sign of stupidity almost suicidal. He had chances to survive and turn this around. His first mistake…

    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Chris McCandless

    • 353 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Christopher McCandless decided early in the book that his ambition was to live completely off the land for a while, with only the help of ten pounds of rice for food. His adventure was not fated to end well though, for the Alaskan wilderness is perilous and he was not well prepared. Although many of the people who offered him rides had offered advice and told him how to be better prepared, Chris still “came into the country with insufficient provisions, and he lacked certain pieces of equipment deemed essential by many Alaskans … He was green and overestimated his resilience…” (180, 182). Christopher had neglected to follow much of the advice, thinking he was prepared after having survived his hitchhiking days. He showed lots of ignorance when walking into the wilderness so underprepared and with such little knowledge of the specific area. He is so overconfident he decides to throw most of his ammunition into the lake, an action he regrets later on, when hinting becomes too important for him to have disregarded it so. This lesson proves useful both two centuries ago, with Sir John Franklin, and a hundred years later, when a new lawyer neglects to gather as much evidence as was needed because he felt so confident after his first case. Hubris and arrogance were the death of Christopher McCandless, for they made him underprepared and ungrateful of what he had.…

    • 353 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Chris McCandless is a man who chose to run away from society because he was tired of it’s corruption, turpitude and people’s dishonesty. He always had a dream to go into the wild and live off of the land. Chris was upset about the direction his life was going in. He knew he had everything any other person would want in life, he graduated college, didn’t have to deal with the struggle of paying for anything because his parents were wealthy. He didn’t want to be like his father, a man who had many affairs, got drunk, beat his wife and puts his reputation before his family.…

    • 582 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation…” (Krakauer 56). Throughout Jon Krakauer’s book, Into the Wild, Chris McCandless sees this as a truth so many are unwilling to face. However he refuses to be one of those people who are, “conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservation” (Krakauer 57) regardless of his own highly comfortable upbringing. Throughout the book, Krakauer develops his thesis that Chris is not just another Bear Grylls wanna-be. In this respect the author is correct. He isn’t just someone who read a book or article and decided to run to the Alaska wilderness. “He wasn’t incompetent—he wouldn’t have lasted 113 days if he were.”(Krakauer 85).…

    • 519 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays