Hello Moose Hunters, Hope you are having a lovely cold, snowy, and wintery day. Now, you may be wondering why I am standing up in front of you about to talk about Chris McCandless and his death, but I would like to inform you that after weeks of research, I am proud to share my well developed ideas regarding McCandless’s trip. By reading Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Civil Disobedience and Walking by Thoreau, Self Reliance by Emerson, and various other texts from newspapers such as the New York Times, I have enriched my knowledge in the field of transcendentalism and in the tragic death of McCandless. I strive to settle the dispute on whether or not McCandless’s journey was “justified.” Let me begin by asking you all a question: why did
…show more content…
Throughout his entire journey, McCandless was strongly aware of the dangers around him. Regardless, he still had plans for his future and made an effort to form strong relationships with people he met on his journey. As a clear introvert, McCandless was living his a dream in the wild, where he had no concerns and he was able to solely focus on himself with limited distractions. Physically, he put himself in dangerous situations which he almost always overcame, but mentally, he was always at a safe state. He went to explore the wild in order to live the life he wanted, not to end the life he did not want, which demonstrates his optimism and determination. Additionally, McCandless followed his beliefs by escaping society its endless pressures. Through his words and actions, McCandless emphasized his deep hatred towards a materialistic world, which strives for “perfection.” Thoreau once wrote in Civil Disobedience: “I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion” (Thoreau). By going on his adventure, McCandless actively tested Thoreau’s ideas and explored nature, what he loved doing or his, “own fashion.” McCandless wrote in his journal, “it is the experiences, the memories, the great triumphant of joy of living to the fullest extent in which real meaning is found” (Krakauer 37). McCandless demonstrates his support for transcendentalist ideas because, like Thoreau and Emerson, he sought life outside society’s boundaries and he strived to live in the wild to find a true meaning to his life. McCandless was extremely well prepared mentally because of his strong ideas which resembled transcendentalism. He was just looking for a healthy escape from the unbearably controlling society in the outside
Throughout his entire journey, McCandless was strongly aware of the dangers around him. Regardless, he still had plans for his future and made an effort to form strong relationships with people he met on his journey. As a clear introvert, McCandless was living his a dream in the wild, where he had no concerns and he was able to solely focus on himself with limited distractions. Physically, he put himself in dangerous situations which he almost always overcame, but mentally, he was always at a safe state. He went to explore the wild in order to live the life he wanted, not to end the life he did not want, which demonstrates his optimism and determination. Additionally, McCandless followed his beliefs by escaping society its endless pressures. Through his words and actions, McCandless emphasized his deep hatred towards a materialistic world, which strives for “perfection.” Thoreau once wrote in Civil Disobedience: “I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion” (Thoreau). By going on his adventure, McCandless actively tested Thoreau’s ideas and explored nature, what he loved doing or his, “own fashion.” McCandless wrote in his journal, “it is the experiences, the memories, the great triumphant of joy of living to the fullest extent in which real meaning is found” (Krakauer 37). McCandless demonstrates his support for transcendentalist ideas because, like Thoreau and Emerson, he sought life outside society’s boundaries and he strived to live in the wild to find a true meaning to his life. McCandless was extremely well prepared mentally because of his strong ideas which resembled transcendentalism. He was just looking for a healthy escape from the unbearably controlling society in the outside