Jon Krakauer’s novel, Into The Wild, presents the question, to what extent is community essential to happiness? Based on the actions illustrated by the main character, Chris Mccandless and humans in general, it’s fair to say that we don’t need people in order to be happy. Community can be defined as, “A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” As humans, we are so diverse and unique that we sometimes can’t find a community where our goals, interest or attitudes are reciprocated by others. Though society does believe we need relationships with parents, mentors and friends to be happy; Chris showed that we did not need these relationships to be happy. People believe that in order to be
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While hitchhiking through southern California in Salton City, Chris was graciously collected by 80 year old man Ronald Franz. Chris had stayed with Franz for a month and the two bonded by sharing meals, hiking and even giving inspirational and encouraging advice to each other. The two became so close that Franz was starting to consider Chris as his grandson. Franz says “I asked Alex if I could adopt him, if he would be my grandson” (Krakauer, 55). Chris, feeling very awkward, declined the offer by saying “We’ll talk about it when I get back from Alaska, Ron” (Krakauer, 55). Chris also says, “You are wrong if you think joy emanates only or principally from human relationships” (Krakauer, 57). This illustrates the claim because even though Chris and Franz did connect very well that relationship was not enough for Chris to stay and he essentially told Franz that others don’t bring joy so he had lived by his words and stepped out of another relationship and continued to find joy after leaving …show more content…
He did many things to ensure that he lived in isolation, like divorcing his family, changing his name and declining Franz’s offer to be part his family. He rejected the lifestyle of community and relationships to live the life of unfiltered experiences alone and was happier living that way. Considerably people argue that the relationships that we have are what make worth living and bring us happiness but Chris showed that you can achieve happiness without relationships.
Work Cited:
Krakauer, Jon. Into the Wild. New York: Anchor Books, 1997. Print.
Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 1803-1882. Self-Reliance. White Plains, N.Y. :Peter Pauper Press, 1967.
While hitchhiking through southern California in Salton City, Chris was graciously collected by 80 year old man Ronald Franz. Chris had stayed with Franz for a month and the two bonded by sharing meals, hiking and even giving inspirational and encouraging advice to each other. The two became so close that Franz was starting to consider Chris as his grandson. Franz says “I asked Alex if I could adopt him, if he would be my grandson” (Krakauer, 55). Chris, feeling very awkward, declined the offer by saying “We’ll talk about it when I get back from Alaska, Ron” (Krakauer, 55). Chris also says, “You are wrong if you think joy emanates only or principally from human relationships” (Krakauer, 57). This illustrates the claim because even though Chris and Franz did connect very well that relationship was not enough for Chris to stay and he essentially told Franz that others don’t bring joy so he had lived by his words and stepped out of another relationship and continued to find joy after leaving …show more content…
He did many things to ensure that he lived in isolation, like divorcing his family, changing his name and declining Franz’s offer to be part his family. He rejected the lifestyle of community and relationships to live the life of unfiltered experiences alone and was happier living that way. Considerably people argue that the relationships that we have are what make worth living and bring us happiness but Chris showed that you can achieve happiness without relationships.
Work Cited:
Krakauer, Jon. Into the Wild. New York: Anchor Books, 1997. Print.
Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 1803-1882. Self-Reliance. White Plains, N.Y. :Peter Pauper Press, 1967.