Chris Mccandless Transcendentalism Essay
Chris McCandless: The Transcendentalist
People too often isolate themselves from the world around them, following a robotic pattern throughout life. Few have learned how to break away from this and show true independence. The opposite of this typical daily practice is called transcendentalism. It calls on people to view the objects in the world as small versions of the whole universe and to trust their individual intuitions. The two most noted American transcendentalists were Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. An example of transcendentalism is the book "Into the Wild". In the book Chris McCandless serves as a prime example of transcendentalism. Chris goes through the motions of a normal kid all the way through college. After graduation, he cuts all connections he has to the monotonous everyday actions of his old life and starts a new journey. In his journey Chris learns many things about himself and develops a unique distinction from the image of a typical everyday man or women. He also learns to depend on self-reliance, and he uses nature to exercise his independence. With the …show more content…
It is human nature to either lead or follow, but in all reality whether u lead or follow doesn't matter because in the large picture everyone is following the same path. To be able to break that chain and make your own path in life takes a special person. Chris was able to break that chain and with nature’s simplicities, he was able to make something of his life in the end because he knew who he was. Chris McCandless was a true transcendentalist because he can be compared to the examples of both Thoreau and Emerson. In the end it can be said that there is not just one way to find ones true self. Chris found his true self by making a bond with nature, and through his encounters with the true simplicities of life in nature, he was able to enjoy the joys of life and make something of it
People too often isolate themselves from the world around them, following a robotic pattern throughout life. Few have learned how to break away from this and show true independence. The opposite of this typical daily practice is called transcendentalism. It calls on people to view the objects in the world as small versions of the whole universe and to trust their individual intuitions. The two most noted American transcendentalists were Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. An example of transcendentalism is the book "Into the Wild". In the book Chris McCandless serves as a prime example of transcendentalism. Chris goes through the motions of a normal kid all the way through college. After graduation, he cuts all connections he has to the monotonous everyday actions of his old life and starts a new journey. In his journey Chris learns many things about himself and develops a unique distinction from the image of a typical everyday man or women. He also learns to depend on self-reliance, and he uses nature to exercise his independence. With the …show more content…
It is human nature to either lead or follow, but in all reality whether u lead or follow doesn't matter because in the large picture everyone is following the same path. To be able to break that chain and make your own path in life takes a special person. Chris was able to break that chain and with nature’s simplicities, he was able to make something of his life in the end because he knew who he was. Chris McCandless was a true transcendentalist because he can be compared to the examples of both Thoreau and Emerson. In the end it can be said that there is not just one way to find ones true self. Chris found his true self by making a bond with nature, and through his encounters with the true simplicities of life in nature, he was able to enjoy the joys of life and make something of it