Chris Mccandless Individualism Essay - 1000 Words

Many children have had the desire to step out of their parents’ shadows and follow their dreams no matter how wild and crazy they might be. Christopher McCandless was more than an average young man trying to escape his parents’ control. He established his lifelong journey to live off the land by following the wise and spiritual ways set forth by Henry David Thoreau and others. He changed his identity to Alexander Supertramp, a character who is pure and cleansed of the artificial grime of the modern world. His voyage led him to his quest for knowledge and fulfillment, as well as his ultimate challenge. Chris McCandless’s self-forged identity was a true Transcendentalist venture because his journey encompassed the ideas and beliefs†¦show more content†¦Ultimate freedom. An extremist† (Krakauer 163). The barriers that stand in the way for children to follow their own path to transcendentalism is enormous, but can be overcame with an open mind and a j ourney for success. With this in mind, Chris McCandless’ reinvented himself into Alexander Supertramp, which led to a successfully crafted lifestyle that applied his strongest beliefs. When he embarked on his long journey into the wild, he was his own creation, a self-taught student in the world of higher truths. Being one with himself displayed his wise understanding of truth and life. Chris’ experiences, memories, and living to his full extent without worrying about any consequences, was the real meaning of life which brought him happiness and joy. However, Supertramp experienced what he noted in one of his journals as, â€Å"a climactic battle to kill the false being within and victoriously conclude the spiritual revolution† (Krakauer 163). He believed that he could purge himself of all artificialness and open his soul to nature. Gordon Orains states that, â€Å"Throughout human history, people have pondered their relationship to the living and nonliving components of the environments in which they have lived† (2). Both Henry Thoreau and Chris McCandless, took a deep dive into the way they both prosper throughout the nature they choose to live in. Disconnecting from the modern world and reunitingShow MoreRelatedChris Mccandless Essay819 Words   |  4 Pagessociety where individualism, simplicity and the divinity of nature, are no longer a top priority; many individuals go on odysseys to find those values. That is the case of Chris McCandless, who spend the last portion of his life living out his philosophy on life. Looking for who he was and what he believed in. Chris McCandless led a life that was similar to that of transcendentalists, through their shared values and outlooks on life. The first key value of transcendentalism is individualism. Which isRead MoreDavid Thoreau s Into The Wild By Jon Krakauer959 Words   |  4 Pagesthought that important reality is intuitive, rather than taught knowledge. This then forced the idea of individualism being the most important element within society and everything having a godly piece within them. Some major transcendentalist figures include: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Jack London. In the novel, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, many of Christopher McCandless’ experiences on his journey of Alaska were an indication that he was a transcendentalist. Throughout theRead MoreReflection upon Ralph Waldo Emerson688 Words   |  3 Pages Chris McCandless a transcendentalist who sought out a simple way of life in nature had shared countless ideals with another transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson. The idea of being a nonconformist fits both of them perfectly. Chris McCandless behaves and acts individually, he has his own views on how life should be lived. â€Å"Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true† (Emerson). Emerson’s views on life were similar to Chris McCandless’s, he alsoRead MoreInto the Wild: an Analysis of Who Jack Londonwas to Chris Mccandless1113 Words   |  5 Pagesfound at the bus where Chris McCandless’s body was found. Chris McCandless admired Jack London as a man and a writer. Chris went into the wild’s of Alaska to prove that he could live off the land, with no modern conveniences, and no human contact. Jack London wrote stories about men and animals experiences against the environment, and survival against h ardships, which were written from his own life. His works included individualism and the study of the laws of nature. Chris wanted to explore hisRead MoreChris McCandless’ Similarities to Ralph Waldo Emerson751 Words   |  3 PagesIn Emerson’s collection of essays, Nature, he stresses the concept of finding one’s own personal understanding of the universe. In another one of Emerson’s works he presents the over-soul-- which goes into deeper detail of the unity of God, man and nature. Chris McCandless, the protagonist of the novel Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakauer, tells the story of a young male who elects to leave his upper-middle class life and travel the United States . Chris McCandless was heavily influenced byRead MoreChristopher McCandless: Rebellious, Suicidal Narcissist1570 Words   |  6 Pagesnon-conformity, as well as individualism, intuition, idealism, imagination, and inspiration. A few of the works featured in the transcendental unit include Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Song of Myself by Walt Whitman, and Walden by Ralph Waldo Emerson. The primary focus of this essay is to provide an opinion on a strikingly debatable topic; Whether or not Christopher McCandless, hero of Krakauer’s Into the Wild, was a true transcendentalist. Despite the bold actions of Chris McCandless on his daring Alaskan