Into the Wild ESSAY!
Transcript of Into the Wild ESSAY!
Even though he is raised in the city environment, the adventurous young
McCandless decides nature suits him best. He recalls a time when “I was out on the
ocean in a canoe, and I almost drowned when a storm came up” (Krakauer 5).
McCandless has experienced many trials in his young life and still yearns for more. He
has no fear of what may happen to him, but just enjoys what is happening. He writes
“I’ve decided that I’m going to live this life for some time to come. The freedom and
simple beauty of it is just too good to pass up”(92). In this postcard, Chris declares that
he will be living this new lifestyle for a while. He indicates his love for the lack of
restrictions nature has to offer. He advises his friend Ron to not “hesitate or make
excuses. Just get out and do it” (58). These are the words young McCandless lives by and
suggests his friend to as well. He doesn’t pause to think about anything but the moment
he is living in. This daring young man concludes that instead of the urban setting he was
raised in, nature is what he is better off living in.
Chris McCandless, as a result of his upbringing is independent and demonstrates
this throughout his journey. During his adventure, McCandless hitchhikes from a man
who he assures, “I’ll be fine with what I’ve got” (6). He likes to rely on others as little as
possible, and to rely on himself as much as he can. The man offered to aid him even more
but he denied. He also informs the man, “I won’t run into anything I can’t deal with on
my own” (6). McCandless is confident in his abilities out in nature. He truly believes he
will survive on is own and not run into trouble. The man then remembers, “There was
just no taking the guy out of it. He was determined. Real gung go” (6). This man recalled
the excitement in Chris to venture out. He sensed the strong-mindedness of him and his
unwavering character. This young man illustrates how self-governing he is throughout his
quest.
It soon became apparent to this reader why the young McCandless chose to rebel
against his family, in particular his father. Walt McCandless offers this insight into
Chris’s personality, that “If you attempted to talk him out of something, he wouldn’t
argue. He’d just nod politely and then do exactly what he wanted” (118). Chris was a
very strong-minded person and followed his own rules. During the summer of Chris’s
Junior year of college, he discovered that “Long after falling in love with Billie, long
after she gave birth to Chris, Walt continued his relationship with Marcia in secret,
dividing his time between two households, two families”(121). After this finding, Chris
would never see his father in the same light. He became isolated and even more detached
from his parents than previously. It is clear as to the reason for the young McCandless’s
defiant behavior towards his family, especially his father.