Why Is Chris Mccandless Unprepared

Chris McCandless’s ultimate goal was to reach the great Alaskan wilderness. Chris was a courageous, fearless, and adventurous person. He hitchhiked and travelled all the way to his great adventure, met a ton of new people and had a huge impact everywhere he went. Chris McCandless didn’t care about luxurious things like money, a fancy car, or a big house, all he cared about was the outdoors. Chris McCandless’s goal in life was to go out and find what he was missing from his life. All he really wanted was to be able to live a happy life and share that with others.

Chris McCandless was just a victim of his own obsession. The novel "Into The Wild" written by John Krakauer revealed the life of a young bright man named Chris McCandless who turned up dead in Alaska in summer 1992. In the novel, John Krakauer approached carefully McCandless's life without putting too much authorial judgment to the readers. Although Chris McCandless remained an elusive figure throughout the novel, I can see Chris McCandless as a dreamy young idealist who tries to follow his dream but failed because of his innocent mistake which prove to be fatal and irreversible. Still, Chris McCandless's courage and passion was something that we should all be proud of.

The story of Chris McCandless has become a pop culture phenomenon. Many are fascinated by his desire to abandon his family and society and “walk into the wild” (Krakauer 69). Newscasts, magazine articles, movies, and books have tried to define what motivated him to give up everything for his Alaskan odyssey; however, the answers died with McCandless. People make assumptions about him without knowing his entire story. McCandless chose to do the unconventional, making people think he was either foolish or brave and determined, but ultimately he was selfish for doing what he did.

Chris McCandless was a loner, a fierce believer in the spiritual revolution, and a hopeless dreamer, traits that, combined with his dislike of society, ultimately led to his “climactic battle to kill the false being within” in the harsh Alaskan wilderness. Until his “great adventure,” Chris increasingly compared himself and the society around him according to a strict moral code. As a result, he was disheartened by the realization that the majority of people he encountered were not taking initiative to improve the quality of life for themselves and for others. Along with his own efforts to rid himself of the pretenses and prejudices of society, McCandless continually encouraged

Henry David Thoreau once said, “live the life you dreamed.” To follow the words of one of his biggest influences, Chris McCandless did exactly that, live his dream. After graduating college, McCandless embarked on an adventure across the United States, living as a rubber tramp to a leather tramp. In May, 1992, he finally set off on the adventure he most desired for, and trekked into the Alaskan wilderness. There, McCandless would live completely off the land away from society, so he could find himself. Just like Thoreau did during his time at Walden Pond. Sharing many of the same ideas and beliefs, McCandless included much of Thoreau’s views into his own philosophy; such as, a rejection towards society, a need to simplify, and a respect towards nature.

In what could have been Chris McCandless’s last contact with humanity he tells his new comrade, Wayne Westerberg, “If this adventure proves fatal and you don’t hear from me again I want you to know you are a great man. I now walk into the wild” (Krakauer 3). For 112 days Chris lived off the harsh Alaskan land. For anyone who is brave enough to travel on the stampede trail and cross the treacherous Teklanika River you will come across the Fairbanks City Transit System Bus 142. Once a backcountry shelter for hunters, trappers, ranger patrols, and for a short time Chris McCandless, Bus 142 now serves as a memorial for Chris McCandless. Travelers will make the trip to witness the basic resources Chris had at hand and the courage it took to

Freedom and Nature. These are both things Chris McCandless longed to dwell in. He took his steps into becoming everying thing he had hoped. But were his dreams and aspirations worth the ‘’Betrayal” of everyone who had ever cared about him? Do we owe our families anything in the first place? By looking at McCandless’s actions and reasonings we can see that he is justified solely on his passion and courage. People would like to say that he was irresponsible, ignorant and careless in his actions. However, all he wanted was complete freedom. He didn’t have to be sorry for anyone just because he was letting his heart guide the way.

Chris McCandless traveled to Alaska in April of 1992 for isolation from society, and unfortunately died in Fairbanks Bus 142 in August of 1992. His death is not what angers readers, but his lack of preparation and arrogance about the wilderness is what proves his “reckless narcissism”. His selfishness to not abide by his parent’s wishes for college and a decent job, his unpreparedness for wilderness survival, and his manipulation and lack of empathy for others is why readers believe he is a “reckless narcissist”. However, many people see him as a “noble idealist” for leaving society and all its amenities to live out his dream of in the wild.

Krakauer’s argument is, “McCandless wasn’t “stupid, tragic, and inconsiderate,” but instead paints a sympathetic picture of a young man with a profound moral compass seeking a higher truth”. His effective case justifying McCandless’s behavior, which may include potential biases, is effective for most personages. This contretemps is feasible, but there are some personages, like Peter Christian, that see the flip side of Krakauer’s assessment. Peter, who “arrived in Alaska in 1992” with McCandless, said “Alaska is populated with people who are either running away from something or seeking themselves in America’s last frontier” he came to Alaska with the same intentions. In his article he states that he was one of those young man.

It is easier to impose a sense of insanity than it is to disprove the other way. The novel Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer depicts and closely analyzes the actions and dispositions of a young man, Chris McCandless, who ventured off into the wilderness to look for spiritual freedom away from all the corruptions of society. Though in the writings of Krakauer, it is evident that Chris McCandless can be characterized as a pilgrim, however, he is nothing more than a reckless kid with many poor attributes that eventually cost him his life. It could appear ironic to some, how his narcissistic side blinded him from reality, causing him to detach from any interactions with humanity.

Trekking along the cold dark trails of the Alaskan interior famished from society, family, and food the average person could not help but ponder why they are in that situation. Chris McCandless however, would say otherwise and probably give you a list why that is his, ideal lifestyle. McCandless’s death in 1992 has baffled the world in numerous ways and has received very mixed reactions. Many questions have been asked about Chris McCandless’s ideology. In the novel, “Into the Wild” John Krakauer has presented his own ideas on what may have been McCandless’s motivation to leave everything behind.

Chris McCandless was an intelligent young man who decided to leave college, his dysfunctional family, and conventional society with hope of gaining enlightenment by exploring the wilderness. Unfortunately, he starved to death while camping in Alaska’s interior. Chris McCandless is a polarizing figure due to his unorthodox and transcendental ideals and the way that he died. Some individuals label McCandless as “a reckless idiot, a wacko, a narcissist who perished out of arrogance and stupidity.” Others believe Chris McCandless was courageous, noble, and admiral for adhering to his rigorous moral ideals. Although both arguments contain valid points, the second party’s interpretation of Chris McCandless is closer to the truth.

Chris McCandless started his journey on April 1990, he had traveled from Atlanta, through the southern states of North America, down to Central America, and up to Alaska, leaving many views and impressions of himself along the way. Many from people that he had met and lived with for a week or so, others from Alaska with their own views. Most of the negative views had been from Alaskans, they had felt that McCandless was a reckless, ill-prepared, nut who got lucky. However the positive thoughts and views come from people he had actually met from his journey. Due to these views and impressions we come to our own conclusions of McCandless and what he is remembered for.

There comes a time when every individual questions their purpose in life. As for Christopher McCandless it occurred after his college graduation. Chris was an ambitious person who despised society, the government and how they were structured. Many think Chris was just a crazed individual, however I agree with those who view him as an icon and that his actions were justified.

“The ends justify the means.” said Niccolo Machiavelli during the Italian Renaissance. He believed that it didn’t matter how you kept your kingdom running as long as you did. It is apparent throughout the novel, Into the Wild, that Chris McCandless’ actions of shunning society were justified because of the principles he found in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay Self-Reliance and Henry David Thoreau’s Excerpts from Walden, which led him to believe it was the only way to find individualism. Though it wasn’t necessary for Chris to shun society, it was the only way he believed he would find individualism which justifies his reasoning for doing so.