Saron M. Desta
Mr. Darling
ENG4U
20 October 2014
The “crazy” man with the dream:
Chris McCandless’s influence on Ronald Franz
Steve Jobs once said, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” Those that have a different outlook on life are usually the ones that are ‘bent out of society’ simply because they decide not to conform to the social norms. In Jon Krakauer’s famous non-fiction novel “Into the Wild” Chris McCandles, later known as Alex Supertramp, is a well educated twenty-four-year-old American who dreams of an ‘Alaskan Odyssey’. Alex believes that beauty is found in freedom and nature rather than materialistic possessions such as money. He believes in making every moment count and living …show more content…
Alex’s goal of living off nature alone in Alaska seems unrealistic to Franz, but as their relationship becomes stronger he realizes that there is nothing stopping Alex from reaching his goal because “Once [he] [makes] up his mind about something, there [is] no changing it” (67). Franz is a disciplined and a devoted Christian whose life changes drastically after Alex’s death. Alex’s positive attitude and passion towards nature radiates towards Franz which influences him to make changes to his own life. Franz enjoys Alex’s company to the point where he is “…happy just knowing [Alex] [is] there” (55). He cares about Alex a lot that he asks him “…if [he] could adopt him, if he would be [his] grandson” (55). Alex encourages Franz to “….make a radical change in (his) lifestyle…” (56) and to “sell most of his belongings…and live on the road” (51). Franz takes his advice to heart and decides to “get out of Salton City” (58) and buy a GMC Duravan and “start seeing some of the great work that God has done” (58). Franz becomes heartbroken as he hears the news about Alex’s death, which causes him to “renounce the Lord” (60) and resume his alcoholic …show more content…
He believes that living a nomadic lifestyle, free from society, and enjoying nature will bring happiness and freedom into a persons life. His hatred towards society and its expectations is what causes him to find his true self and to pursue his ‘Alaskan Odyssey’. He chooses to go to Alaska because he believes that living in the wild alone will cure his problems and free his mind from all the pressure. Alex’s lifestyle and beliefs influences Franz to the extent that he decides to store his possessions and become one with nature. After Alex’s death, Franz becomes extremely devastated that he decides to become an atheist and resume his alcoholic
Mr. Darling
ENG4U
20 October 2014
The “crazy” man with the dream:
Chris McCandless’s influence on Ronald Franz
Steve Jobs once said, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” Those that have a different outlook on life are usually the ones that are ‘bent out of society’ simply because they decide not to conform to the social norms. In Jon Krakauer’s famous non-fiction novel “Into the Wild” Chris McCandles, later known as Alex Supertramp, is a well educated twenty-four-year-old American who dreams of an ‘Alaskan Odyssey’. Alex believes that beauty is found in freedom and nature rather than materialistic possessions such as money. He believes in making every moment count and living …show more content…
Alex’s goal of living off nature alone in Alaska seems unrealistic to Franz, but as their relationship becomes stronger he realizes that there is nothing stopping Alex from reaching his goal because “Once [he] [makes] up his mind about something, there [is] no changing it” (67). Franz is a disciplined and a devoted Christian whose life changes drastically after Alex’s death. Alex’s positive attitude and passion towards nature radiates towards Franz which influences him to make changes to his own life. Franz enjoys Alex’s company to the point where he is “…happy just knowing [Alex] [is] there” (55). He cares about Alex a lot that he asks him “…if [he] could adopt him, if he would be [his] grandson” (55). Alex encourages Franz to “….make a radical change in (his) lifestyle…” (56) and to “sell most of his belongings…and live on the road” (51). Franz takes his advice to heart and decides to “get out of Salton City” (58) and buy a GMC Duravan and “start seeing some of the great work that God has done” (58). Franz becomes heartbroken as he hears the news about Alex’s death, which causes him to “renounce the Lord” (60) and resume his alcoholic …show more content…
He believes that living a nomadic lifestyle, free from society, and enjoying nature will bring happiness and freedom into a persons life. His hatred towards society and its expectations is what causes him to find his true self and to pursue his ‘Alaskan Odyssey’. He chooses to go to Alaska because he believes that living in the wild alone will cure his problems and free his mind from all the pressure. Alex’s lifestyle and beliefs influences Franz to the extent that he decides to store his possessions and become one with nature. After Alex’s death, Franz becomes extremely devastated that he decides to become an atheist and resume his alcoholic