It has been said that some find life after death. This stands true for Christopher McCandless, the main protagonist in Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. Into the Wild is journalist Jon Krakauer’s narration of McCandless ditching his life of privilege and hitch hiking around America, until he would eventually trek into the Alaskan Wilderness and lose his life due to starvation. After McCandless is found dead, news of his death sweeps across the nation as his untimely departure faces criticism for being deserved, as McCandless went into the wilderness extremely underprepared. Through this novel, Krakauer brings McCandless’s spirit back to life again as he uses anecdotes, ethos, and aphorisms to convince readers that McCandless’s expedition was not an act of craziness, but an act of a free spirit that many can relate to. At the beginning of the novel, Krakauer …show more content…
McCandless believed that one should “make each day a new horizon” (Krakauer 789495263). By the same token, McCandless also believed that “happiness only real when shared” (Krakauer 24572567). These loose, telescopic, declarative aphorisms are meant to make readers stop and consider these words. Krakauer tries to illustrate to readers that McCandless was a nonconformist who felt deeply and believed everyone should do something meaningful with the life they lead. By inserting these aphorisms, Krakauer means to not only display McCandless’s intelligent and poignant mind, but to also show that ideas repeated throughout time, such as the importance of companionship and making the most of one’s life, were ideas that greatly impacted who McCandless as a person. Thus, with these telescopic and declarative aphorisms, readers can relate to him and his search for meaning in the
Jon Krakauer concludes the book by offering in some of his own personal experiences. "The hint of what was concealed in those shadows terrified me, but I caught sight of something in the glimpse, some forbidden and elemental riddle that was no less compelling than the sweet, hidden petals of a woman’s sex. In my case-and, I believe, in the case of Chris McCandless-that was a very different thing from wanting me to die."(156). Both McCandless and Krakauer were both at one point in their lives searching for something in the wild. Krakauer proposes this argument to prove to the audience that McCandless was not crazy due to the fact that Krakauer himself was
Krakauer’s descriptions of Carine and use of anecdotes in the novel appeals to the readers’ emotions and compels the readers to sympathize with Carine and the death of Chris
Krakauer aligns the narrative of McCandless’ search for identity, and how family played a large role, with his own. Both embark on extreme adventures to find themselves in reaction to actions by their fathers that have caused them great pain. Learning of his father’s bigamy, McCandless thinks
Krakauer’s timeline allows him to influence the reader by showing specific things about McCandless at certain times to make him appear noble and inspirational. He also uses specific quotes from McCandless that accurately gives insight into McCandless’s thought
In April 1992, a young man hitchhiked to Alaska and walked into the wilderness alone. His decomposed body was found by moose hunters 4 months later. The novel, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer tells the story of the rebellious man, who lived a very abstract life. After Chris graduated high school he developed ideas of philosophy from authors, Thoreau and Jack London. Chris took his philosophic beliefs and abandoned society and his family to find the true meaning of life and happiness. Going into the wilderness he took nothing but a ten pound bag of rice and a backpack. But, little did he know that his “romantic silliness” would lead him to his death.
As human beings, do we make our own decisions or do we allow others to make them for us? Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild, analyzes Chris McCandless’s ability to do so. His purpose is to inform the reader of McCandless’s choices and how they led to his death. Mr. Krakauer concentrates on the individuality, death and dreams McCandless to bestow emotion to his readers.
Traveling across the country, Chris McCandless, an ambitious and determined young man, seeks a transcendent experience and the purpose of life, which he ultimately accomplishes. Strongly against societal norms, McCandless, a non-materialistic and ambitious
Jon Krakauer, fascinated by a young man in April 1992 who hitchhiked to Alaska and lived alone in the wild for four months before his decomposed body was discovered, writes the story of Christopher McCandless, in his national bestseller: Into the Wild. McCandless was always a unique and intelligent boy who saw the world differently. Into the Wild explores all aspects of McCandless’s life in order to better understand the reason why a smart, social boy, from an upper class family would put himself in extraordinary peril by living off the land in the Alaskan Bush. McCandless represents the true tragic hero that Aristotle defined. Krakauer depicts McCandless as a tragic hero by detailing his unique and perhaps flawed views on society,
In April of 1992, a young man of the age of twenty-four, later determined to be Chris McCandless ' body, was discovered in an old Fairbanks bus in the Alaskan bush. Four years after his death, Jon Krakauer wrote a novel titled Into The Wild, the book traced McCandless 's journey around much of the United States, across the West side of Canada, and even down to the boarder of Mexico. Over the many years since his death, speculations have arisen about how death was brought upon him. Most believe starvation was the only reason, but with extensive research Jon Krakauer discovered another theory, that a substance in the seeds that Chris McCandless was ingesting was a contributing factor to his death. Even with this conclusion many around the world despise Chris for his being naive and unprepared when walking into the wild. While others believe he was brave for following his dreams and never letting anyone talk him out of his plans. Chris McCandless was an adventurer who was brave enough to never back down, but in the end his luck turned for the worst and was misfortunate enough to have ate the wrong type of food. McCandless was an inspiration and a lesson to people of all ages, that dreams aren 't meant to be taken lightly and even with possible risks they should be followed. Jon Krakauer 's book tells a marvelous story of a young man who left behind the outside world to do what he loved the most.
In Jon Krakauer'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, Krakauer wrote Into the Wild to reflect on the journey that McCandless makes. Krakauer 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.
Christopher McCandless once said “it’s not important in life to be strong...but to feel strong.” In the book, “Into The Wild” written by Jon Krakauer projected a story of a young man's journey as he discovered himself. This story was about Chris McCandless’ life. It took place throughout the United States, Canada, and Alaska in the years of 1990 - 1992. This book was structured and designed for people who thought McCandless was a suicidal figure. In the text, Krakauer is trying to persuade the reader that McCandless did not intend to end his life, especially the way it came to an end. The narrator, Jon Krakauer tells McCandless’ story in third person perspective. The tone of the book is very touching and sentimental, it is showed by mostly
In every case, people view a situation as either reckless, or noble. Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakauer, tells the story of a young man named Chris McCandles who leaves home to create a new identity for himself and go on an adventure to find freedom from society. Krakauer wrote about Chris’s nobility of following his beliefs of freedom, even if death was the only answer to his goal, in order to teach his readers to ignore the confinements and control of society and reach for your true desires in life. Some oppose Krakauer’s view though, and see Chris as reckless because he takes no precautions with his life, and throws his family and friends away in order to make his journey to Alaska, his freedom, easier. Through the mode of pathos and
In a letter, this is what McCandless suggested to one of his closest friends, Ronald Franz. Mr. Franz was extremely lonely man in his eighties. In this letter, McCandess obviously encouraged him to take risks and live life to the fullest. Despite his old age, Ronald Franz sold most of his possessions including his apartment, and he set up a camp on the bajada. This shows the influence McCandless had on other people. This quote also reveals one of McCandless’s character traits. He was
On August 18th, 1992, Christopher McCandless, 24 years old, starved to death in the Alaskan wilderness after living off the land for months with minimal supplies. In response to local authorities finding McCandless’ body, Jon Krakauer published an article in the magazine Outside, briefly outlining McCandless’ journey. Years after McCandless’ death, Krakauer published his book, Into the Wild, carefully detailing McCandless’ life up to his death based on information gathered from various people McCandless met on his journey. Some read about McCandless and condemned him, accusing him of being a reckless, stupid kid who didn’t respect his family, friends, or the danger of the wilderness. Others idolized him, insisting that he was brave, adventurous,
The author skillfully uses literary techniques to convey his purpose of giving life to a man on an extraordinary path that led to his eventual demise and truthfully telling the somber story of Christopher McCandless. Krakauer enhances the story by using irony to establish Chris’s unique personality. The author also uses Characterization the give details about Chris’s lifestyle and his choices that affect his journey. Another literary element Krakauer uses is theme. The many themes in the story attract a diverse audience. Krakauer’s telling is world famous for being the truest, and most heart-felt account of Christopher McCandless’s life. The use of literary techniques including irony, characterization and theme help convey the authors