Alexander McCandless has met many different individuals during his trek throughout America, most notable of which was an old man in his eighties by the name of Ron Franz. Despite being weary of McCandless due to a life mired with misfortune and anguish, Franz would eventually form a deep friendship with McCandless almost seeing him as his own son. Soon after, McCandless would leave to head for Carthage, South Dakota in order to find a temporary place to work. Two weeks after his departure, Franz would receive a letter from McCandless. Throughout McCandless’ letter to Franz, he attempts to convince him to change his previously sedentary lifestyle to a more nomadic one. He does this by utilizing concessions on Franz’s stubborn nature, outlining
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He first uses “hope” in the sentence “I really hope … you will get out …start seeing some of the great work that God has done” in which he later links to the “hope that the next time I see you, you will be a new man” (McCandless). The reason that he does is to reiterate his contention that he wishes that Franz to cast off his previous lifestyle with a more spontaneous one as evidenced by the first quote, he then uses the second quote to create an expectation that Franz will become a better individual “the next time I see you” (McCandless). Subsequently, by using the word “hope” he manages to meld these two ideas together in order to convince Franz that the only way to satisfy McCandless’ expectations is to take his advice and completely change his lifestyle. This not only banks upon Franz’s paternal love for McCandless, but also from a deep seeded desire to escape his bitter past. Alexander McCandless may have constructed a powerful piece of rhetoric within the letter, with the purpose of spreading his ideals to alleviate the past experiences of troubled individuals. Whether or not this was due to his own turbulent past, it seems likely that he would view nature as a form of heavenly release that would provide inner solace as well as spiritual development. McCandless’ interaction with Ron
He first uses “hope” in the sentence “I really hope … you will get out …start seeing some of the great work that God has done” in which he later links to the “hope that the next time I see you, you will be a new man” (McCandless). The reason that he does is to reiterate his contention that he wishes that Franz to cast off his previous lifestyle with a more spontaneous one as evidenced by the first quote, he then uses the second quote to create an expectation that Franz will become a better individual “the next time I see you” (McCandless). Subsequently, by using the word “hope” he manages to meld these two ideas together in order to convince Franz that the only way to satisfy McCandless’ expectations is to take his advice and completely change his lifestyle. This not only banks upon Franz’s paternal love for McCandless, but also from a deep seeded desire to escape his bitter past. Alexander McCandless may have constructed a powerful piece of rhetoric within the letter, with the purpose of spreading his ideals to alleviate the past experiences of troubled individuals. Whether or not this was due to his own turbulent past, it seems likely that he would view nature as a form of heavenly release that would provide inner solace as well as spiritual development. McCandless’ interaction with Ron