On September 6, 1992, a young man’s body was found just outside the northern boundary of Denali National Park. That young man’s body was Christopher McCandless, a 24-year-old Emory University Graduate. Chris McCandless had previously left Georgia to go on a 114-day journey cross country before finally starving to death in Denali National Park. His journey leads many to question if McCandless’s journey was a death wish or if he was an intelligent young man seeking for adventure. Shaun Callarman weighted in on this issue, clearing stating McCandless was “just plain crazy” (Callarman). Furthermore, McCandless had a death wish by going into the Denali National Park because he was poorly prepared, arrogant, and senseless; under those circumstances,
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Shaun Callarman does share with his audience, that he believes McCandless was an intelligent young man, but that his arrogance got in the way of intelligence. McCandless did allow outside factors to get in the way of his intelligence, for example, when he started the journey poorly prepared. When McCandless climbed into Gallien’s truck, Gallien noticed his bag was very light for somebody traveling cross country. As an accomplished hunter and woodsmen, Gallien recalls, “He wasn’t carrying anywhere near as much food and gear as you’d expect a guy to be carrying for that kind of trip” (Krakauer 4). After noticing his lack of preparedness, Gallien even offered to stop and personally buy him some more supplies, but McCandless declined that offer. This comes to show how McCandless had the chance to come into his journey more prepared, but his arrogance clouded his judgment, resulting in him saying no. Not only did Callarman believe he was ignored, but also bright at the same time. Almost every time McCandless stopped, he discussed or left behind books. When he stayed with Jan and Bob he helped them sell used books at a local flea market, which shows his love of literature. McCandless especially took interest in London and his books about the rugged lifestyle of Alaska. Growing up reading London’s books may also be a reason he decided to go on a journey to Alaska and may have given Callarman the impression of his “romantic silliness” (Callarman). Krakauer informs his audience that McCandless had a hard time remembering these tales by London were works of fiction: “Constructions of the imagination that had more to do with London’s romantic sensibilities than actualities of life in the subarctic wilderness” (Krakauer 44). His passion for literature made him look very intelligent but may have resulted in a
Shaun Callarman does share with his audience, that he believes McCandless was an intelligent young man, but that his arrogance got in the way of intelligence. McCandless did allow outside factors to get in the way of his intelligence, for example, when he started the journey poorly prepared. When McCandless climbed into Gallien’s truck, Gallien noticed his bag was very light for somebody traveling cross country. As an accomplished hunter and woodsmen, Gallien recalls, “He wasn’t carrying anywhere near as much food and gear as you’d expect a guy to be carrying for that kind of trip” (Krakauer 4). After noticing his lack of preparedness, Gallien even offered to stop and personally buy him some more supplies, but McCandless declined that offer. This comes to show how McCandless had the chance to come into his journey more prepared, but his arrogance clouded his judgment, resulting in him saying no. Not only did Callarman believe he was ignored, but also bright at the same time. Almost every time McCandless stopped, he discussed or left behind books. When he stayed with Jan and Bob he helped them sell used books at a local flea market, which shows his love of literature. McCandless especially took interest in London and his books about the rugged lifestyle of Alaska. Growing up reading London’s books may also be a reason he decided to go on a journey to Alaska and may have given Callarman the impression of his “romantic silliness” (Callarman). Krakauer informs his audience that McCandless had a hard time remembering these tales by London were works of fiction: “Constructions of the imagination that had more to do with London’s romantic sensibilities than actualities of life in the subarctic wilderness” (Krakauer 44). His passion for literature made him look very intelligent but may have resulted in a