Transcendentalist Parallels between Chris McCandless and Henry David Thoreau Chris McCandless and Henry David Thoreau both show their beliefs through the philosophy of transcendentalism. Throughout Into the Wild, the parallels between Thoreau and Chris, and their ideas for transcendentalism, are almost identical. Transcendentalism’s main belief is finding inner self-wisdom, which both Chris and Thoreau attempt by going into nature. McCandless and Thoreau are both extremely similar and it can be seen throughout Into the Wild and Walden. Transcendentalist’s main belief is finding inner self-wisdom, and believing that happiness has been found. Chris McCandless does not want to live a normal average life like everyone else. In the book he
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While Chris was in Alaska, he wrote, “I have lived through much, and now I think I have found what is needed for happiness. A quiet, secluded life in the country… Such is my idea of happiness” (Krakauer 169). McCandless knows that his self-wisdom and happiness is different from everyone else’s. From his transcendentalist eyesight, his happiness comes from nature and all that is in it. Like Chris, Thoreau believes that nature is a driving force for wisdom and happiness. In Thoreau’s Walden he states, “I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like…If it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it; or if it was sublime, to know it by experience”(Walden). In this quote, Thoreau explains that he wanted the most from life and nature was his catalyst for the way he wanted to live. When you compare McCandless and Thoreau, they are almost uncanny to each other, and nature was just one of the similarities between the …show more content…
For example, in Into the Wild Chris says, “You are wrong if you think joy emanates only or principally from human relations… We just have to have the courage against our habitual lifestyle and engage in unconditional living” (Krakauer 57). By saying this, Chris shows that we don’t have to have luxuries in our life to be happy, what God has given us should make us happy. In Walden, Thoreau states,” Simplify, simplify. Instead of three meals a day, if it be necessary eat but one… And reduce other things in proportion” (Walden). In all of McCandless’s and Thoreau’s beliefs, simplicity is the most common theme seen between the two. Although Chris lived a very good life growing up, he did not exactly want all the luxuries he was
While Chris was in Alaska, he wrote, “I have lived through much, and now I think I have found what is needed for happiness. A quiet, secluded life in the country… Such is my idea of happiness” (Krakauer 169). McCandless knows that his self-wisdom and happiness is different from everyone else’s. From his transcendentalist eyesight, his happiness comes from nature and all that is in it. Like Chris, Thoreau believes that nature is a driving force for wisdom and happiness. In Thoreau’s Walden he states, “I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like…If it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it; or if it was sublime, to know it by experience”(Walden). In this quote, Thoreau explains that he wanted the most from life and nature was his catalyst for the way he wanted to live. When you compare McCandless and Thoreau, they are almost uncanny to each other, and nature was just one of the similarities between the …show more content…
For example, in Into the Wild Chris says, “You are wrong if you think joy emanates only or principally from human relations… We just have to have the courage against our habitual lifestyle and engage in unconditional living” (Krakauer 57). By saying this, Chris shows that we don’t have to have luxuries in our life to be happy, what God has given us should make us happy. In Walden, Thoreau states,” Simplify, simplify. Instead of three meals a day, if it be necessary eat but one… And reduce other things in proportion” (Walden). In all of McCandless’s and Thoreau’s beliefs, simplicity is the most common theme seen between the two. Although Chris lived a very good life growing up, he did not exactly want all the luxuries he was