McCandless’s Identity Crisis Identities provide the personal cornerstone for people. Under pressure, however, the cornerstone fractures and a new cornerstone displaces the crumbling cornerstone. Cornerstones develop similarly to identities for they both change under pressure. An identity, however, changes with experience. The experiences that McCandless encounters causes his identity to change frequently. McCandless’s abandonment of his past identity leads to the creation a perfect identity and the discovery of his true identity. Before McCandless’s departure into the wild, he alienates himself and secedes from society. McCandless “insisting that titles and honors are irrelevant” displays an example of his self-alienation (Krakauer 20). Titles
…show more content…
Evidence of him referring to himself in third person can be found in his journal that he kept whilst on his journey. Society regards those who refer to themselves in third-person as arrogant; further giving proof of McCandless’s arrogance. More on the journal of McCandless. The journal contains records of McCandless’s journeys and adventures that McCandless recorded himself. The journeys and adventures, by nature, boasts the achievements of Alex Supertramp. The boastfulness of McCandless comes as a different note, comparing to his previous identity. Previously, McCandless’s mindset towards achievements, or “titles and honors” comes as indifferent (20). Now, however, McCandless sees achievements in a new light. He respects them. McCandless tries to instill happiness into himself through the boasting of his achievements. Seeing achievements as a form of joy, McCandless’s boastfulness represents the first third of his second identity—the pursuit of …show more content…
The fact that McCandless experiences an identity crisis which occurs later in his life represents the abnormal, since most people experience them during their teens. McCandless’s identity forms the foundation of who he expresses. Furthermore, McCandless’s identity combines all of the events that he experiences into a representation of his life. For this reason, McCandless adventures into the wild in order to garner more experience for the advancement to his identity. Similarly, people pursue new experiences in order to find out more about themselves. Identities form who people
Evidence of him referring to himself in third person can be found in his journal that he kept whilst on his journey. Society regards those who refer to themselves in third-person as arrogant; further giving proof of McCandless’s arrogance. More on the journal of McCandless. The journal contains records of McCandless’s journeys and adventures that McCandless recorded himself. The journeys and adventures, by nature, boasts the achievements of Alex Supertramp. The boastfulness of McCandless comes as a different note, comparing to his previous identity. Previously, McCandless’s mindset towards achievements, or “titles and honors” comes as indifferent (20). Now, however, McCandless sees achievements in a new light. He respects them. McCandless tries to instill happiness into himself through the boasting of his achievements. Seeing achievements as a form of joy, McCandless’s boastfulness represents the first third of his second identity—the pursuit of …show more content…
The fact that McCandless experiences an identity crisis which occurs later in his life represents the abnormal, since most people experience them during their teens. McCandless’s identity forms the foundation of who he expresses. Furthermore, McCandless’s identity combines all of the events that he experiences into a representation of his life. For this reason, McCandless adventures into the wild in order to garner more experience for the advancement to his identity. Similarly, people pursue new experiences in order to find out more about themselves. Identities form who people