Bros:
As we come closer to the concluding pages of the story about one man's journey into the wilderness to not only find, but create himself, I would like you to write an at least three paragraph reflection on what you believe is the most important lesson to learn from his story.
Please use chapters 16 and 17 as reference points, enlightening your classmates as to what you think are the major insights to be gained from the final chapters of this powerful story.
What are some themes, symbols, images, metaphors and other other literary techniques that people should be aware of in understanding the deeper meaning of the text.
Have at it, and be sure to quote from the text, using the proper format for quotations such as follows:
Krakauer writes, "..." (#).
For instance, "..." (Krakauer #).
According to Krakauer, "..." (#).
This reflection is DUE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2009 by class-time on blog or typed, hard copy. It will be worth 10 points, so put the proper intellectual effort into this.
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p.s. don't forget to head your entries with the following:
Your Name
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Rel 011.06
April 22, 2009
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25 comments:
Teddy Larkin
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Rel 011.06
April 22, 2009
In this story a young man named Chris goes into the wilderness on a mission to prove he can survive all on his own leaving all of society behind to get away from the world of entertainment, the phony Brittany Spears attitude, fighting and arguing, and all the crap we see everyday. He was on the brink of leaving his journey and going back to urban life when things take a turn for the worst and Chris dies of starvation.
The book was so captivating because we can see ourselves as Chris. His feelings of disillusionment and dissatisfaction with society’s idea of “the good life”– these are things we can relate to. But I think everyone realizes that his story is not an example for the rest of us, it is a story in which lessons are to be learned from.
We all should retain from this book that there is a Chris McCandless in every single one of us. There are two major lessons to be learned from Chris. One, we except the trash we see all around us everyday as the norm in society, but when you really take a step back and think about it, you realize how sad and pathetic we all have become. I have had thoughts of running away, at times in my life when things were not going well, and going on my own soul search. However I have refrained from such drastic action because God has greatly assisted me sort out my inner battles. We should learn that even though we may want to run away from the world, sometimes we need to just get a little push from God or someone else in order to keep our own peace of mind. So learn that while God and others can help you overcome hardships, just give small acts of kindness to others so that you can assist them and continue the chain of good works.
The other lesson to be learned from Chris is that people should notice and try to test themselves continually to make sure they can pull their own weight. Krakauer writes, "He had a need to test himself in ways, as he was fond of saying, ""that mattered""," (182). Since Chris was born into a fairly rich family he had many things given to him in life that he did not have to do anything for. He left on his journey to prove to himself he could survive on his own. Many people today do not need to work or get jobs because they have been born into such wealth. Therefore it is necessary for parents when raising children to not just give them everything they desire but make them work and strive towards goals. They will hopefully use this work ethic for the rest of their lives.
John Yost
Rel. 011.06
April 22,2009
Throught the book there are some lessons or values that you learn and read about.
One of the values is respect, not for himself but of other people. In my eyes Chris didn't like himself, not enough to take his life though but, he didn't like the fact that he was well off. Which is part of the reason I think he resent his parents. He did though respect the blue collar people that he met on the way though like Wayne, Franz, and Jan. I think that his biggest asset was he friendliness and respect for others.
Another of his values that are needed to some extent is his dream of wanting to go and do things. For instance,"McCandless was candid with Stuckey about his intent to spend the summer alone in the bush, living off the land"(Krakauer pg.159). This is a value showing that, McCandless was a little radical in his way of freedom, you need to have your own dreams and freedoms in your life to keep you- yourself.
The most important lesson to be learned in this story is to be able to put yourself in another person's shoes. There were way too many people that didn't understand what Chris was trying to accomplish and therefore misjudged him completely. If they actually took the time to realize the significance oof the experiences that he was going through, they would know that he was on a great journey in order to try to find the true meaning of life. Instead, they didn't even think of this and therefore thought of him as insane and suicidal. However, the fact that no one did understand his wonderful adventure only contributes to its greatness.
John Krauker was misunderstood as well. Since his journey was extremely similar to Chris', people thought that he was just another crazy guy who was merely following in his footsteps. Instead, Krauker was trying to do what he had longed for for a long time: gaining his father's respect. No one could realize that this was going to be almost impossible to accomplish because of the dissapointment that his father felt towards him. By going off into the mountains, he showed him that he was willing to do anything for him. Other people might not have been up to this challenge, but the most important thing is thast Krauker was.
The greatest thing about Chris' journey was that he was truly able to experience God, even at the cost of death. Many committed christians would have loved to know the intense joy that Chris received from the harsh Alaskan wilderness, no matter what the sacrifices. Why should other people criticize what he did when all he was doing is knowing life in his purest form? In today's materialist society, this unfortunately looks so strange, but luckily Chris still realizes that it was so right.
Kevin Petnuch
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Rel 011.06
April 22,2009
In the novel, "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer, the most important lesson to learn is that money and possesions do not make everyone happy. In the case of chris McCandless, he did not want many possesiuons and therfore did not have many. When his parents offered to get him a new car he said no and that his was perfecllyfine. I think this is what maade him leave home and go on a journey away from society and into the Alaska wilderness. He was able to see that people always wanted more even if what they had was the best.
His journey into alaska was in way an admirable test to see if he could make it on his own without his family's wealth and influence. This is admirable because he wanted to have to work inorder to achieve his goals, rather than have somthing handed to him. He felt that life was too easy with his family and he was more intrested in living off the land.
In the end of his journey, even though he died, his actions teach us that you dont need possessions and money to survive and to have friends. On his journey he met many diffrent people and had many diffrent relationships. This idea of chris's showed that he new what he thought was right and with his journey almost in a way proved it was right in what he believed.
Michael Uranker
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April 22, 2009
In the story a young man named Christopher McCandless goes into the wilderness to show he can survive without society and other people. Chris has a long journey until he eventually dies of starvation.
The book makes you become the character of Christopher McCandless. It makes you feel his thoughts and pains. It also makes you feel his strugles. It shows you the difference between society and normal life.
The main idea or lesson of the story is to show the difference in everyone's lives and the callling each of us has. The unique calling by God. Another lesson is that everyone should work towards their goals and believe in themselves. Working towards never giving up.
Matthew Miklasevich
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Rel 011.06
April 22, 2009
An important theme in Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild is the importance of freedom. Chris McCandless leaves society to become Alexander Supertramp. Krakauer writes, "Two years he walks the earth. No phone, no pool, no pets, no cigarettes. Ultimate freedom." (163). Chris left behind the society that made his former family happy, and invented his own lifestyle, where he was in control. He was free do do what he wanted, and wanted to live in simplicity, with no luxuries, just the bare necessities he needed to survive. In some cases, he almost died because he was not prepared, but he enjoyed his lifestyle because he was truly free, and that was all that mattered to him.
Another theme found in Into the Wild is the true meaning of happiness. At the beginning of his journey, Chris thought he needed to escape from society to find happiness. In the end, he found his own meaning of happiness that he lived until his death in Alaska. Krakauer writes, "A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor..." (169). Chris's definition of happiness differed from the society he left. Most people think that they are happy with material posessions, like money, and a family. Chris was different. He was better off on his own. Although he liked company, not many people fully understood him. The only one Chris thought understood him was his sister, Carine. Chris thought loving your neighbor, doing good deeds, and seclusion was all that was needed for happiness. Chris lived his "happy" lifestyle successfully. This demonstrates that it is possible, despite what you may think due to your influences of modern society.
Chris embodied freedom and happiness. He showed that true happiness was possible in today's society. Many people think that they need money and material items to be happy, but Chris lived on no more than a little rice, berries he found in the wild, and game he hunted. Everytime he had an excess of money it items, he abandoned them. His journey was successful, and shared with the world through Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild. We all do not have to abandon their live to go on an amazing journey, but everybody had to go on a "quest" into maturity. People today should learn that happiness can be achieved from almost nothing. We do not need all these material posessions, we, as Chris showed, can live on the bare necessities, if not less. We could all be better off with a little less, to show us what true happiness and freedom is.
Conor Coleman
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Rel. 011.06
April 22, 2009
Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakauer, tells the tale of a young man known as Alexander Supertramp, originally Christopher McCandless, and his journey across the nation to find himself and to truly live his life. A impactful story, Into the Wild is an eye-opener in that it not only reveals to us our true human nature, on of survival, but also how we have the power to control our fate, but not always the knowledge.
This is revealed to us in the final chapters of the book which describe McCandless's death. His own fault, one of minor proportion, was what caused his ultimate demise. He ate a wild sweet pea, believing it to be something else, which contained a chemical inducing starvation. This reveals to the reader that our fate is in our hands, and that event the smallest errors can cause problems unkown.
Another thing this book shows us is how little we understand the purpose of owr living, and the need for all of us to actually go and experience life. This does not mean to go into the woods and survive off of mere berries, but to live a life while on the brink of death. For example, a penniless Christopher wanders about in a shanty town build on an abandoned military base with nowhere to go and nothing to do. This may sound like a bland existence to some, but to others, it is a true life of freedom. Today, we are constantly surrounded and plagued by our daily activities and chores, droning on in our almost meaningless existences. But to fight for our own survival, this is to have lived.
In the end, this story is very educational and useful in our lives today, and in more ways than one. A true eye-opener this is, real philosophical like, and the final chapters show us this.
Stephen Stuthers
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April 22, 2009
In the book INTO THE WILD it tells about a young man or adventurer who lets the world go. He attends college and then he pretty much just leaves home. He burns all his money and cuts up all of his ID so he can become something else, something new. His hopes are to find god and understand parents and the whole world. He sets off and encounters people that leave an impression on him. HE goes up into the woods and finds a bus that is old and abandened. I think he stays and lives in the bus because he can kink of relate to it. the bus was old and left behind and forgotten. I believe that Chris felt the same way. His parents loved him but never made an effort to stop and listen, to try to understand him. Chris was an inspiring person that i think he could touch everybody in the world. He loved and the new peole he met never forgot him. Yet there might of been other ways to deal with society and all of the family issues he had, he wanted to be free. I think there is a valuable lesson to be learned from Chris. One lesson is to let our heart do what it wants to do .l if you want to do something of accomplish something, do it. do not let also you should really try to understand everything around you because you never know what you will find!!
Kris "raging lunatic" Sabatini
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Rel 011. 06
Apirl 22 2009
In Chris's adventure he learns many themes such as what a father is and should be, how to get away to from society, and compassion. However, I believe that finding God is the most important theme. In finding nature, you can find yourself. In finding yourself, you can find God. In finding finding God, you can come to peace. So, in order to be at peace, you must venture Into the Wild (pun).
In his late adoclense, McCandless comes to the understanding that in order to escape from society, from corruption, from materialize is to leave it all. That is just what he did. He ditched his college fund, his material goods, and all of his money. He entered the wild to come to peace within himself. He, his being, was reborn.
During his last days in Alaska, Krakauer protays Chris as coming to an understanding with God and himself. He states that he found what he was looking for. That is what the meaning of his quest was and although he can be viewed as not having sucess, we can pretty sure that he found what he was looking for.
Cam Brown
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Rel 011.06
April 22, 2009
Many different themes, symbols, and meanings can be pulled from this book. Chris' journey into the wild tells us more than what we might see on the surface. His strife can indeed teach us a lesson. This book helped to complete the journey of not only Chris McCandless, but Krakauer's also.
One very important lesson that Chris dwells on is the illusion of society. Most of the things that matter to us in our daily lives are based on ideas and thoughts. For example, money, media, politics, social rank, and race are all generally backed by an idea or thought. Chris realized that society was a form of brainwash, "poisoning" the minds of the people within it. Essentially, we exist in a world of illusion, where we fight over nothing, hold each other to high standards, and base our lives around material entities. Chris wanted us to realize that all we really needed was right under our feet. All that should really matter is spiritual enlightenment, examining yourself to see what really matters and what doesn't. Krakauer writes, "He needed to test himself in ways, as he was fond of saying, 'that mattered.' (182)
Another significant theme is that of the father quest. I feel that the quest for the father goes deeper than just a search, it delves into the discovery of self. If one can learn of his origins, he can learn of himself. With the discovery of a father-figure, you can also glimpse into your future, and from there, better yourself. In Chris' case, I think the father (or possibly mother) that he was looking for was the earth. It developed into a caring, nurturing factor that provided him with food and shelter, similarly to a father. I think that this ties in with the theme of society's illusion. To Chris, the earth is the only father one needs to survive and live a fulfilled life. For Krakauer, his journey was an act of rebellion. However, this rebellion led him to find that he was becoming more and more like his father. This shows that a father will always be in your mind and conscious, that even when you try to stray, your instinct will always lead you back to the source.
Chad Goldman
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Rel.011.06
April 21, 2009
The great journey of Chris "Alex Supertramp" McCandless has ended in this outstanding story. The journey has many great lessons from Chris's life. The story shows Chris struggle away from society. Chris tries hard to escape and does get away but has sad ending.
Chris makes it to Alaska and is happy. He gets the supplies he needs and makes it to the "Magic Bus". Chris shows alot of spirit when stumbing onto his piece of heaven in Alaska. This spirit makes Chris think he is unbeatable in the Alaska. The odds are still against Chris.
The lessons of Chris' journey are escaping society and isolation. Escaping the everyday society can be great on a person if they are ready for the journey (get away like money for when no working).
Isolation can help bring body and mind together an the world stands still. The story can change lives, like it has mine.
Nick Durkin
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April 22, 2009
Through this book there were quite a few lessons that could be learned, but a major reoccuring theme was just to be happy and see that the people in the world aren't as evil as we always think they are. Chris realizes that the people he was resisting were friendly and excepting of him, and he realized he should be happy for that. Chris did want to return to society and apply his new insights to his life, but he died of starvation before he could.
Chris was constantly wary and doubtful of everyone he met throughout most of the book. Even after he got to know Ron Franz he still had no faith that Ron was "different" from other people. For instance, Ron says," So I asked Alex if I could adopt him, if he would be my grandson." Alex replies,"We'll talk about it when I get back from Alaska, Ron."(Krakauer#55)
Chris has a good life but can't understand certain things. He doesn't know why people don't get along and why people try to cover things up with lies. An example is how his father never told him who his real mother was. Chris just couldn't get why his dad never just told him. Also Chris can't get his head around how people are starving in America. For instance,"Chris would wander the seedier quarters of Washington, chatting with prostitutes and homeless people, buying them meals, earnestly suggesting ways they might improve their lives."(Krakauer#113)
When Chris is in Alaska he understands in his last days that people aren't all that bad. He discovers that people can change and that they all have the tendency and will to do good. He sees the same god that made his beloved Alaska also made the humans, and all that God makes is good.
Michael Sestric
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Rel 011.06
April 22, 2009
In the novel many values and life messages are conveyed to us. One that I feel is important is the lesson of creating yourself. One of the worst mistakes anyone can make in their life is listening when being told who they are. Alexander Supertramp set out to mold himself into a person that he felt most comfortable being. Not the person his father felt comfortable with. It was a search to define his own happiness.
Alexander was ashamed and disturbed by his father's past. His sister says that he felt his childhood was fake. In order for him to get passed this he needed to prove to himself he could be any kind of person that he wanted to be, and not who his dad was.
During our father search we struggle, and for great portions of the time it's about what keeps us alive from day to day. For instance Krakauer writes, "These entries are almost entirely about what he ate" (183). This only makes our search better, because it is in this way that we find we can do it on our own we can "Rise up" and take care of ourselves.
In life I believe that many of us struggle to be pure. Pure in the sense that we do not contaminate our original thoughts and ideas with the beliefs of someone else. "They" tell us we have to live by certain standards in our society. They tell us to conform. However, the price we pay when we conform is that everyone likes us except ourselves. As people we only get one chance at this life so why spend attempting to achieve someone else's goals?
No matter who we are we can relate ourselves to Chris. Even if our destinations are not the same we are on the same journey. We are all on the same journey. We take this journey and we conquer it, or we die trying. Not because we want to but because it is our human obligation. Our obligation to prove to ourselves that we matter and that we count. Because without the ability to appreciate ourselves we are worthless. That is why we journey.
Matt Doherty
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Rel 011.06
April 21, 2009
In chapter 16 Chris becomes fully immersed in the wild. Chris meets Gaylord Stuckey, a truck driver, and he hitches a long ride to Fairbanks in which he confides in him. When he is in Fairbanks he buys rice, a gun, and learns different plant life that is edible. Stuckey makes Chris promise to send him a card so he would know Chris survived. As Chris checks out he makes sure to send Wayne and Jan postcards. This reveals they probably had the biggest impact on Chris in his travels. Chris has one final encounter with another human being when Jim Gallien drives him to the point he selected to begin at. Jim gives him his boots and just as another warm person he shows worry and tries to convince Chris to stay. Chris is the most happy he has been for a long time. He had finally done it. Chris was able to live in the wild. Chris thought he was finally at the point he wanted to be, and this feeling would stay for a little longer.
Chris has Hiked for some time when he comes across the when he the old bus. He is pleased by what he has found and renames it the magic bus. The bus will provide him with needed shelter and help him on his journey. Chris is seemingly far away from any sign of life and any reminder of civilization, yet he is literally in a reminder. The bus was some ones. Someone lived in it, slept in it, and ate in it. Now Chris was doing the same thing. He was embraced and saved by the very thing he had given up, an automobile. The heaviest thing Chris brings on his journey is his books. Chris reads very often and I think reading for Chris was an escape from the life he despised. Chris wants to live so free, almost like an animal. In the wild Chris is destroyed and Alex Super tramp is embodied. Chris even leaves an inscription depicting his transformation. He finds living this way in the wild is a total release. After a while Chris starts to feel a basic human emotion. He is lonely. He needs to be around other human beings. Chris has learned from Alex and he is finished. Chris can solve the problems he has directly instead of fleeing to the wilderness. He learned the most about life from the people he met not the miles he traveled. Chris decides to return. His plans are halted by the rivers and now his desire to be with other people has returned. Chris physically can't though so he must wait and last in the wild. His desire for contact is going to be tested by nature as he is trying to live for more again.
Krakauer describes how a year after Chris was discovered dead he travels to the "magic bus". Krakauer feels everything Chris felt through the undisturbed scene and his own experience. There were times where it could have ended for Krakauer. Everything seems so real. Chris has a revelation while reading Dr. Zhivago and now wants to not just leave the wild, but he wants to fully enter society again. Chris will return and live in society again. His life does not have to be hollow. His life will become about others.
Alex Hooper
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Rel. 011.06
April 21, 2009
In Into the Wild a man by the name of Chris McCandless, or Alexander Supertramp goes into the wilderness of Alaska. He does this to Find the true meaning of life. Also, he wanted to get out of the society of materials. Chris plans to return home, but he cant due to an uncrossable river. Eventually, he unfortunately starves to his death. We can learn many things from McCandless' life and his story.
McCandless was a one of a kind who didnt care about what other people thought about him. A lesson that we can learn from him is to be yourself and dont let material possessions interfere with your life and faith. A flaw that I saw in Chris was that he physically needed to be alone with God, meanwhile, God blessed him with a loving and caring family. To me, a family is the greatest blessing that you can ever have.
Another thing that we can learn from chris' journey is to not count on money to bring you hapiness. McCandless certainly not let money bring him hapiness. He burned all of his money. Chris never experienced true joy and hapiness until he had no money and was independent.
Vaughn Franz
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April 21, 2009
A major theme in Into the Wild is the thought or experience of self revelation. In order to find himself and God was a major reason for his journey. But perhaps he was able to find reasons and better understand himself and others through his experience in the wild. As Krakauer notes in an epigraph at the beginning of chapter 16 ". . . and to find, amidst the solitude and grandeur of the western wilds, more correct views of human nature and the true interests of man."(Krakauer 157). This passage explains that you may be able to find something, through experiences in the wild, that helps you understand yourself and others.
The key theme of self examination is highlighted in Chris' letter to Ron Franz and in the nature of Chris' journey itself. An important part of Chris' self examination is the denunciation of the material and monetary constructs of society. By looking through and living without the things that people consider to be of utmost importance Chris is able to find freedom and understand himself. By understanding himself and his true nature as the quote earlier says he might be able to understand the actions of others. An enlightenment of this sort may allow for forgiveness. In Chris' case he may have been able to forgive his parents.
The themes in this book such as self examination show that you need to have experiences that allow you to live life to the fullest. These experiences do not have to be as drastic as Chris' were but by forgetting money and other things we deem important every once in a while and taking a trip somewhere in the wilderness will allow you to examine yourself and also to enjoy yourself and experience some freedom from society.
Chris McNulty
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Rel 011.06
April 22, 2009
Somewhere in Alaska, Chris McCandless quietly submits to starvation. He dies alone, without the comfort of his family and friends. He also dies very young, just a few years after graduating college at the top of his class. While some may think that this is a terrible way to die, from what we know, Chris McCandless was happy. He was happy because he had completed his journey to be reborn. For two years he had driven, walked, hitchhiked, and canoed across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, trying to find a “father figure” and trying to find the strength to forgive his own father for the mistakes he had made when Chris was just a baby. Throughout his journey, meets many people and forms small friendships with them, as they help him achieve his ultimate goal. While some may argue that he had not achieved his goals, all indications point to that he believe that he did, and was ready to return to civilization.
While the book is about the physical journey of “Alex Supertramp,” it is about the spiritual journey that Chris embarks on. When Chris left his family, he was deeply angered by the way his father had handled his divorce, and had decided to remove himself from the two things that dominate our society today: money and power. Chris had very much hated the selfish behavior that other people had, and was tired about everything being about money and power. We even see that early in the book, as Chris rejects an offer of a new car, presented to him by his parents. Also, while in Arizona, Chris burns all of his money, feeling that he needed to remove himself from the influence of it. This is just some background on Chris’s journey.
One large theme that occurs throughout the book is the theme of rebirth. Chris’s journey is very much like a spiritual rebirth. In Arizona, he is baptized by the flash flood that destroys his car. He goes through adolescence with Bob and Jan. He experiences adulthood as he works with Wayne in the grain elevator is South Dakota, and he experiences the last stages of his life in Alaska, albeit it a much younger age then he should be. Even though he died, we know that Chris McCandless had found what he was looking for. From what we know, he had forgiven his father, and was ready to return to civilization to begin his new life. In his death, Chris McCandless had show the world what it means to be reborn, and has served as an example to many people.
George Tsounos
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Rel 011.06
April 22, 2009
Some themes that Krakauer writes about are, is that chris trys to find him self in life. Also he was trying to find a father figure and he wanted to prove to himself that he could live life on his own. Another theme is when he just wants to live the simple life and is not happy when he has money but happy when he is poor.
Symbols that Krakauer writes
about are when he is scared of water. Also another symbol is the bus it is a symbol of home and hope. Krakauer writes that his car was a symbol of the simple life that he had money what he didnt need a rich facey car.
Images that Chris found in his life wasn the mountain it represented the dificulties in his life. When he thought he killed a moose and it was a caribou he felt bad about it. The bus was a image of the tragic story that how he died. Another image that he had was how he took gods gift and wasted it.
Patrick Doyle
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April 22, 2009
The key to maturing is finding out who one is by exploring all possible outlets that may tell more about one’s self. Chris McCandless decides to go on an adventure of epic proportions, by traveling to Alaska, the last frontier for him. There he experiences many things such as hunger, cold, and sheer loneliness, but he eventually does find some sort of satisfaction in the wild.
I believe that the reason why most people are drawn to this book and this story of a "stupid" adventurer because we all want (even if it's just subconscious) to be a hero, an inventor, or a person like Chris or "Alex Supertramp" because it means breaking away from the code of common thinking and lets one become "better" than others for even just a few seconds.McCandless achieves this through the immortality that this book offers through Jon Krakauer.
As Chris would want (I would hope) this book opened people's eyes to the injustice that society has forced upon us as Americans and that we need to be able to show others that have been sucked into society that they are blind. As Chris did, we need to define the laws of appropriate behavior ourselves and we should not leave it up to people who are popular, such as the media, the celebrities, and the government. We should live by being independent and at the same time, responsible, as Chris was.
Throughout Into the Wild, Chris McCandless shows amazing respect for everybody and everything around him (except his parents, who he at the time was having most difficulty). (and the society he despised). He explains his feelings with the people he meets on his trip, and seems to effect everybody he meets greatly.
He has a strong personality and control over his opinions that allows him to react to everybody positively, and with respect. He expresses himself without fear of being made fun of or looked at like a wimp. Therefore, no matter what the situation, he is not forced to make somebody else feel bad, and can then sustain his respect for everyone.
This is the problem with people today. People are not mean to eachother/ bully eachother because they are always bad people, but because they are forced to as a consequence of their personality of faking and following trends that are popular yet unmoral. This is the most important lesson we should learn from this story, and it is proven in the people he effected throughout his journey.
Mike Siamacco
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april 22nd, 2009
Everyone will read the book, and this is the kind of book that is going to have a different effect on each individual. We know, that chris is a very perplexed lost man, and venturing into the wilderness for him i guess you can say is his "destiny" or pursuit of happiness. Having such a pensive, deep minded person, right in his journal everyday, there is many lessons to be learned.
Some of us will read this book and we can relate a good deal to Chris. We can relate to the pain and disgust in society these days, and we can relate to developing such strong relationships with others. For me, this whole story, had a huge impact for me, on love. I think love is the spark that ignited Chris's journey. The love of the wild, the love and obsession almost, of finding out his true self, the love for the people he meets through out.
"Some people feel like they don't deserve love. They walk away quietly into empty spaces, trying to close the gaps of the past."
— Chris McCandless. This here, is nothing but the truth. We all know the quote, when one door of happiness closes, we often tend to look so deep at the one that closes, that we don't notice the one that has opened for us. I've had the situation where i felt i dont deserve love. I felt like i needed to give it, but not get it in return. Well, i did want to be loved, but for a time, i realize it wasn't going to happen. I was loved, but there was that special person i needed to love me. It makes you feel lonely, secluded and very self-conscious. So, i had this urge to really find myself, to seclude myself in my room, continue with my art, sit in a daze and dream about life and myself. I think the main lesson to be learned is, no matter what situation it is, no matter who you are, where you are, someone loves you. Don't always let your heart lead you, let just your conscious lead you. Try to find your soul. I think, well i know for myself, that we can all agree, Christopher Mcandless was sucessfull at doing so.
Through the book there are some lessons or values that you learn and read about.
The first lesson i got from the book Into the Wild is to always have respect and understanding for your parents or elders. Because although you might not always see eye to eye, they are always looking out for your best interest and benefit. Also the child has to understand that although the parents or parent might not show a loving side to him, but the parents or parent always loves them.
Another lesson i found to a benefit to my life is "Happiness is only real when shared" said Chris McCandless seconds before his death. In the beginning of Chris's journey, he felt that by going out to live in the wilderness by himself would help him understand how to forgive. Sadly he realize that happiness is only real when shared seconds before his life was cut short. This helps me at times when i feel that i would be was much happier if i lived by myself or was more independent.
Lastly one image that really stood out to me was the mountains in Alaska. The mountain that Chris eventually climbs in my mind represents the difficulties in his life that, that he could have over came without leaving society to test his mental strength.
RyanA.Smith
Bro.Rob Peach,FSC
Relo11.06
April 22, 2009
In this story there is a young man that went into the wild to get away from everything in his life.He wanted to get away because, I thing that he was tired of not doing anything he ask to do.But the most important thing was that he was tired of his pearents aways fighting,and the farther aways hitting his wife.
That young boy,or young man`s name was Chris McCandless.But,the one thing that pearents could agree on is that they both loved Chris.I thing that one of the lession`s Chris leared was that even though pearents fight once in a while that doesn`t mean that they don`t love one other and you.
The lest lession for McCandless to learn was that "true happyness is better shared".What that means is that to be truely happy you have share it whith the people that loves you.In Chris case it was his pearents,the two people that on the road in a trialer, the girl,and the old man.
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