Into the Wild: Christopher McCandless' Death

Christopher McCandless was destined to die as soon as he decided to enter the Alaskan wild unprepared. There were multiple reasons that prompted McCandless’ decision; however, if he had planned more and obtained the necessary materials to survive in the wilderness, he could very well still be alive today. Chris made a lot of careless errors on his adventure, and these mistakes foreshadowed an inevitable death that he came to peace with as he said his goodbyes to the people he loved and met along the way. Theories suggest that McCandless suffered a tragic and cruel death due to ingesting seeds containing swainsonine. Studies show that animals that ingest this alkaloid “show signs of depression, a slow staggering gait, rough coat, dull eyes with a staring look, emaciation, muscular incoordination, and nervousness…may have difficulty eating and drinking”(Krakauer 194). Unfortunately, Chris consumed potato seeds that contained swainsonine, causing him to grow weaker and weaker until he passed away in the Alaskan wild. This alkaloid causes anyone who consumes it to starve, no matter how much they eat, and a person can only last ten to fourteen days without food and water which is why when his body was found, it weighed only sixty seven pounds. “Starvation is not a pleasant way to expire. In advanced stages of famine, as the body begins to consume itself, the victim suffers muscle pain, heart disturbances, loss of hair, dizziness, shortness of breath, extreme sensitivity to cold, physical and mental exhaustion. The skin becomes discolored. In the absence of key nutrients, a severe chemical imbalance develops in the brain, including convulsions and hallucinations” (Krakauer 198). Seeing these side effects, starvation does not seem like a pleasant way to go. Chris’ death was actually ironic. He had dreams of going around the world helping other people who are suffering, especially those who are starving. However, instead of helping others in this situation, he got