Literary Analysis of Into the Wild free essay sample

Not many people will experience living in the wilderness, but for those who have will have memories to treasure forever. Among those people who would choose this way of living is Chris McCandless. Jon Krakauers novel Into The Wild, Krakauer attempts to recreate and tell the story of Chris McCandlesss journey to Alaska. Unfortunately, because of McCandlesss untimely death in the Alaskan wilderness, there are many mysteries that will be left unanswered such as his decision to go there. There are many speculations regarding the causes for McCandlesss journey because there is no valid proof. Even the author Krakauer forms his own theory. He accurately hypothesizes youthful derring-do (182) as a motive for McCandlesss Alaskan odyssey (157); in addition, the transcendentalist ideas—escapism, simplicitism, nonconformity, and spiritual connection—McCandless internalized from the literature he read fused with his animosity towards his parents compelled him to venture into the wild (134). We will write a custom essay sample on Literary Analysis of Into the Wild or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Krakauer correctly attributes McCandlesss youth and risk-taking personality as one of the driving forces in his journey. Since he was young, he enjoyed a life of adventure and action. According to the article This Is Your Brain on Adventure by Florence Williams, risk takers have three major emotional ingredients: desire for adventure, relative disregard for harm, [and] impulsivity. These assertions are persuasive because McCandless possess all these characteristics and he demonstrates them throughout the book. In Detrital Wash, Krakauer describes McCandlesss adventure throughout the United States and Mexico. While he was in Arizona, he impulsively buys a secondhand aluminum canoe so that he can paddle down the Colorado River to the Gulf of California (Krakauer 32). Later, McCandless was strirred by the austerity of Colorados landscape and he ignored warning signs that he was about to enter the U. S. Armys highly restricted Yuma Proving Ground (Krakauer 33). Williamss statement proves Krakauers idea that youth derring-do was the reason for McCandlesss journey. McCandless read many works of literature including those written by Leo Tolstoy, Henry David Thoreau, and Jack London. As a result, he adopted their beliefs as his own, especially the transcendentalist ideas of Henry David Thoreau. Chris McCandlesss journey is largely driven by the transcendentalist ideas: escapism, nonconformity, simplicitism, and spiritual connection. It was proven by Krakauer that he does not like to get too close to people and he always wants to get away from them. As Krakauer points out: McCandless was thrilled to be on his way north, and he was relieved as wellrelieved that he had again evaded the impending threat of human intimacy, of friendship, and all the messy emotional baggage that comes with it. he had fled the claustrophobic confines of his family. Hed successfully kept Jan Burress and Wayne Westerberg at arms length, flitting out of their lives before anything was expected of him. And now hed slipped painlessly out of Ron Franzs life as well. (Krakauer 55). This statement implies that McCandless has problems with intimacy. During his long and fatal adventure he does not contact his closest family and friend, his sister Carine. Although he met many people along the way, he always kept a certain distance. He feared the responsibilities that comes along with human relationships. It was evident in the story that he was againstmany things, such as authority. One time, Krakauer reports that he drove his Datsun off-road even though it is forbidden. His refusal to abide by the law suggests that he does not want to live by the rules and expectations set for him. McCandless had the transcendentalist view of simplicity. He wanted to live with as few belongings and help as possible. Krakauer reports that he burned one hundred twenty-three dollars and he tried to give away his watch, his comb, and what he said was all his money (28, 7). This information suggests that McCandless wanted to live without the lavish pleasures of civilization. He preferred to survive with the bare necessities and the only thing he had was a few materials and a ten pound bag. Wallace Stegner points out in his essay Coda: Wilderness Letter, that the wilderness is important because for the spiritual renewal, the recognition of identity, [and] the birth of awe Stegners statement suggests the allure of the wilderness that McCandless saw. He viewed the wilderness as a place for self-discovery, a place where he can live by his own rules and be completely free, and a sanctuary that is free from the ideas he opposed. He also wanted to test himself by trying to survive with little materials. (Stegner). He was seeking nonconformity, refuge, self-discovery and simplicity in the Alaskan wilderness. McCandlesss contempt for his parents and his desire to punish them help trigger his journey to Alaska. His relationship with his parents was strained and problematic. He hated them because he viewed them as materialistic, manipulative, and tyrannical rulers. However, his relationship with his father Walt is much worse. Just like his father, McCandless was strong-willed and determined. Krakauer reports McCandlesss stubbornness, along with their contrasting beliefs, caused them to constantly clash with each other. McCandless always tried to live up to the high expectations set by Walt. According to Krakauer, when McCandless discovered that his father continued the relationship with his ex-wife, he felt betrayed and wronged by the hypocrisy of his fathers expectations. During his junior year at Emory, his animosity towards his parents intensified because, according to McCandless, they symbolized the injustice in the world at large (123).