Who Is Chris Mccandless In Into The Wild

Improved Essays
The film adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild is based upon Christopher McCandless and his attempt to abandon all his possessions, give his $24,000 in savings to charity and hitchhike to Alaska to live within the wilderness. Christopher abandons all family and during his lengthy journey to Alaska meets different people that help shape him in a unique way. Christopher ultimately wants to live off the land, only having what he needs. Although he states he does not want or need anything to be attached to, he makes human connections with like-minded individuals which provide an influence on his decisions and his overall journey to Alaska. In the end of his story, he comes to the realization that “happiness is only real when shared.” Before this Sean Penn movie adaptation in 2007, Jon Krakauer’s novel already …show more content…
Although some may argue that he was admirable for leaving a good message for people who crave freedom and peace with nature, throughout the movie, it can be seen that Chris McCandless is nothing but reckless for the actions he took depicted in the film. His actions inevitably are what ended his life, but this overall outcome of death was caused by giving up all things needed to survive and his wrongful philosophical views.

“The freedom and simple beauty is too good to pass up…” (Christopher McCandless). From the moment Christopher’s parents offer him a new car it can be instantly shown through his appalled reaction that things have no value and are meaningless to Christopher. This mindset from the very start of the film shares that what is offered and in his grasp, is never taken or used. In society, money and school have a large value to everyone. Chris is shown to graduate from college and that he has a large sum of money

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Chris wasn't materialistic at all. His mom refers to him as being “embarrassed by all that” (115) in reference to all the nice clothes, jewelry, cars, and the house the family bought. He hated the wealth he “believed the wealth was shameful, corrupting, and inherently…

    • 870 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    However, that is not the case. Throughout the book, many of Chris’s actions were ignorant, ungrateful and seems to be somewhat selfish. He went into the wilderness without proper knowledge of how to live out there in the wild, and even without the proper equipment, even little things that can help you guide of where you are, location wise, a map. He threw it out thinking that he’d explore an unexplored part of Alaska. In the artice “Why the Teen Brain Is Drawn to Risk,” by Maia Szalavitz, it states that “... adolescents carefully think about risks most adults would not even consider taking…”…

    • 1063 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Foolish or Honorable? Chris McCandless’s journey outlined by the novel Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer supports that it is simple and indisputable to apprehend that McCandless was not a heroic figure, just one persuaded by inaccurate decisions. McCandless was not your average student, he had a very bright future ahead of him graduating with high honors from one of the country's most prestigious universities; Emory University, however, threw it all down the drain when he took an everlasting adventure hiking into the Alaskan bush unprepared and alone. Many perceive him to be a hero, leaving the social norms one is expected to carry out throughout life, but, many also view him as a fool who wasted all this god given talent, just to die a cold hearted death. What could persuade a human…

    • 1649 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Into the Wild Summer Reading 1. Was Chris McCandless’ death a “foolish, pointless, death” (71)? Did he lack “the requisite humility” to go into the wild (72)? Explain. While it appears reasonable to throw McCandless into the “cliché” of people who wandered into the wilderness without a clue of what’s to come, it is at the same time harsh to say that his death is worth no more than a killing on the street.…

    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    He used the majority of his funds to buy himself a car, and in the summer after he graduated high school he drove across the country. In the novel, krakauer defends his first adventure to be the first moment in his legacy of rejecting modern…

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Throughout history, there have been many people who have expressed their ideas and lived their lives in ways that others may not be able to understand. There are people in all different cultures who refuse to conform to social norms and live lives the way that society has taught us we’re supposed to. Chris McCandless was one of these people, who, despite what others say, he went about his life how he wanted to, and didn’t give in to people telling him that he should be doing things differently. He never finished school and did not go on to live a life the way most people do: getting a degree and a real job, getting married, having children, and spending their whole lives working to make money until retirement, McCandless wanted nothing to do with that lifestyle. Another influential person who portrays ways of going about life in a “different” way is Allen Ginsberg.…

    • 942 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The materialistic environment he grew up in forced him to seek seclusion in nature to find the meaning of his life. While scientists in this country, and other individuals might not understand his reasoning or his motivation, they simply follow the same materialistic way of thinking that his parents shared. By living in a household focuses on living life to its fullest I feel as though I can understand the drive Chris had to leave society behind and dive into the nature surrounding him. Chris had the right to define his meaning of a happy life, and in the end, although he had a short life, he experienced more than some could do in a…

    • 999 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For Example, Leo Tolstoy states “Life is a place of service, and in that service one has to suffer a great deal that is hard to bear, but more often to experience a great deal of joy.” (Leo). Leo is stating that in life you have to suffer a great deal, the suffering leads to a great deal of happiness in life. Chris viewed this as an inspiration, because he had suffered throughout his journey, even though he had a lot of obstacles he did not quit until he finally met his initial point, it is what made him happy. Leo also inspired Chris in many different ways, in which Chris showed in the movie Into the Wild.…

    • 987 Words
    • 4 Pages
    • 4 Works Cited
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Christopher Mccandless Hero Analysis

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    • 4 Works Cited

    Instead of following social norms and living how society, his parents, and those around him told him to, Chris ventured out into the world on his own to live his life by his own rules. Chris did not care what other people thought of him and he did not want to live the way society taught him to. By rejecting money, cars, maps, and other things that could have kept him alive, he proved himself to be an independent and adventurous young man. “I can almost understand why he rejected maps, common sense, conventional wisdom and local knowledge before embarking on his venture. Occasionally when I hear others make fun of Christopher McCandless, I fall quiet” (Sherry Simpson).…

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    • 4 Works Cited
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Chris believes the only way his life would be meaningful is if he did exactly what he is after. His strong willed nature is also shown when Chris leaves without telling anyone about his plans. He believes that he doesn’t need to tell anyone because he “will not run into anything that he can’t deal with” ( Krakauer 6). McCandless has such a strong will that he doesn't really think about the negative aspects of…

    • 1011 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Chris also felt free from the burdens of his family, as well as the pressures of the outside world to conform and be normal. He was alone and out in the wilderness. Through this, he felt truly happy. Chris loved the days where he was penniless, the days where he was drifting and had complete freedom over himself. “...My days were more exciting when I was penniless and had to forage around for my next meal... I 've decided that I 'm going to live this life for some time to come.…

    • 1088 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    McCandless was not big on material things, when he was younger he informed his family that he would no longer accept gifts and stayed true to his word for remainder of his life. This action is commendable as most people today would never do this, and always want more material things. Chris McCandless would most likely view Christmas as a greed fest for people to get extravagant gifts of material things they most likely do not need. He did not like how people could be rich and not help others with their money. When he did use his car, he loved it and would never have felt the need for an upgrade because he bought it and it worked.…

    • 1329 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Decomposition of Self-Discovery Lao Tzu once said, “At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” This quote speaks volumes regarding the individual and their own beliefs. However, there are definitely limitations and boundaries to the desires of some people.…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    With no instructions or guidelines, he lived life the way he thought life should be lived. Chris McCandless was brave to have confidence in his actions. “Happiness is only real when shared,” Chris maintains his ideas that happiness can’t come from lifeless tools, but only by people and…

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Isolation: The Struggle to Find One’s Self In Into The Wild, Jon Krakauer investigates a young man’s struggle between isolation and forgiveness. This book shows the compelling, incredible adventure of Chris Mccandless, who leaves his home, family and money to disconnect himself from society and live the life he has always wanted.…

    • 1369 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays