Question B:
In Chapter 11 "Chesapeake Bay" we finally meet Chris' parents and his sister and we learn about Chris as a child. What do you think about Chris' relationship with his father?
Krakauer introduces Chapter 12, which includes Chris McCandless’s discovery of his father’s infidelity, with a quotation from GK Chesterton: “For children are innocent and love justice, while most of us are wicked and naturally prefer mercy.” Who is guilty in this story (e.g. the book), if anyone? Do they deserve justice or mercy?
- Chris’s relationship with his father?
9 comments:
If anyone is guily in the story it has to be Chris McCandless. We can on about how he lived in nature and was truly finding his path and making a connection with people, but when it comes down to it. He drove his family away and ultimatly they were left with nothing except his last wordly posessions and a mystery surrounding his death. There is no doubt that Walt McCandless cheated and wronged his family, i think that in itself is a terrible thing to happen but it did happen and life continued onward as it always does. Chris found this out during one of his trips out west and bottled it up until he decided to cut ff contact from his family. Even his beloved siser Carine who it was said that he had such a great relationship with. On page 124 Krakauer writes, "You have completly dropped away fom all who love and care about you. Whatever it is-whoever you're with-do you think this is right?" (Krakauer 124). This as a letter from Billie and even though this was written while he was in college i think this attitude comes with the years that Chris spends on the road. As romanticized as we make this story, Chris still left those that loved him the most and forever put them thru agony and pain that probably conintues today. As much as i love this book and cherish this idea of exploring the world i cannot for the life of me understand why Chris put his family thru so much pain during his trek and failed for even one moment to aknowledge the fact that he was alive and well. The only guilty party is Chris and the innocent is his family in Walt, Billie, and Carine.
During chapter eleven I found it hard to dislike Chris's family. I waned it to be an obvious break-away; that is was necessary. But I found the relationship between Chris and his father to be much more cohesive than expected. Although, as a reader I could tell there feelings were forced and even fake at times. Like when Chris worked for his father, made a piece of software, and wouldn't tell how it worked but to accept that it did and leave the rest alone. As Chris got older the estrangement with his parents thickened and become more apparent. Carine said that he would speak about with her and his aggression built. I liked how they showed points of view from Chris through the sisters, the sisters point of view, and his parents point of view. It helped collect my ideas as a reader but the whole thing still confuses me. After reading chapter 12 helped. But not having something like his father's infidelities it is hard to understand. What he found out should have been forgivable, how he found out may not have been. And after that, plus holding everything else in would probably make little things more apparent. In Chris's eyes his father is guilty and represents everything he didn't want. It would have been hard to convince him otherwise, although I also wonder if the dog would have helped.
I agree with Billy, if anyone is guilty in this story story, it's Chris. Chris' parents do not ask for much - only that he takes care of himself. Chris, however, is extremely stubborn and if he does not want to do something he simply will not do it. In Krakauer's includes a quote from Walt, Chris' father which really explains this "Chris was good at almost everything he ever tried... which made him supremely overconfident. If you attempted to talk him out of something, he wouldn't argue. He'd just nod politely and then do exactly what he wanted" (119). This is exactly what Chris/Alex does throughout his trip. Chris/Alex does at times ignore good advice and warnings, assuming that he always knows better than the advice-giver. Chris' stubborn nature unnecessarily hurts his family.
If only Chris had confided in his parents of his dreams of adventure, his family could have been less hurt and harmed. This would have been the right thing to do. On page 119, we hear about how Walt did his best to be understanding of Chris' first adventure. Walt says "I tried to explain that we didn't object to his travels; we just wanted him to be a little more careful and to keep us better informed of his whereabouts". This is not too much to ask. Billie and Walt care so much for Chris and a postcard or call every now and again is not too much to ask for. If it would put their mind at rest, why not? Could Chris have really hated his parents that much? I would have been much more understanding of Chris' abrupt decision to begin his long adventure if he had told his parents, they objected, and he left anyway still writing them. But Chris doesn't give any hope in an an understanding from them. He should at least give them a chance. At the least, his mother did was not in the wrong for it was his father who was unfaithful. Causing her pain just isn't right.
I think that Chris McCandless was irrational when it came to his family situation. I believe that Chris McCandless’s father made a huge error in judgment when he decided to be in two relationships at once, and I think when he did, Chris looked at him differently. I do not expect Chris to get over the past immediately, and see no fault in his father. I do, however, believe that every single person makes mistakes in their life, and the people that should always be there for you are your family. I think Chris was selfish and absorbed in his own feelings. Ultimately, it was his mother’s choice to stay with his father, and since the wrong was done mainly to her, Chris should be able to forgive and forget as well. No family is perfect, and if they were, their lives would be dull. I think Chris McCandless was ungrateful for all that he had, and was cruel to punish his parents. In trying to get even with his father, he hurt his mother. I also believe that Chris was very judgmental and harsh. It appears that his parents worked very hard to make their money, and while they may spend it in a way Chris does not agree with, it is no reason to punish them. Carine had stated, “Mom and Dad put in incredibly long hours,” (Krakauer, 107). Chris acts very childish, and it seems as though he believes everyone needs to see things his way. He appears to have a lack of insight when it comes to compassion. I believe this all stems from the fact that he is very self involved.
Chris is definately the guilty one in this story. In terms of his relationship with his parents, he seems to be stuck in his ways and only does what he sets his mind to do. "Chris was good at almost everything he ever tried... which made him supremely overconfident. If you attempted to talk him out of something, he wouldn't argue. He'd just nod politely and then do exactly what he wanted" (119). This quote defines what chris is like and how he deals with situations that come his way. chris and his father do seem to hold a relationship where one can relate to the other but as time goes on and chris got older his relationship with his parents becomes more and more seperated, and if he was able to go to his parents with his dreams about adventure they probably would have been less hurt.
I would describe Chris’ relationship with his father and both his parents as silent. I feel like he did not open up to his parents but almost hated them because they were not like him. Once Chris found out about his father’s infidelity he would never get over the fact that his father cheated on his mother. Chris’ went on to learn more details about his fathers infidelity to make things worse and he could never forgive him for what he did. He kept his anger about his father to himself until it eventually had to come out. Chris finally tells his sister that what his parents did made his, “entire childhood seem like a fiction,” (Krakauer, 123). Maybe this is why he found it ‘ok’ to do what he did, to leave them as he went ‘into the wild.’ As I am reading the book I feel that Chris is one who is guilty, his father did something that obviously was sinful and not right, but it seemed that everyone was able to forgive him except for Chris. I’m not saying that this is an easy situation for anyone, but it is no excuse to leave your family in pain and worry. If Chris would have talked to his parents he may not have hated them so much for what happened. Also what makes Chris guilty is the fact that he wasn’t ‘getting back’ at his father for what he did, but making everything harder for his mother who did nothing wrong. Chris sacrificed his family’s happiness for his own and this is what ultimately makes him responsible.
It seems that Chris and his father got a long at one time. Walt apparently tried to be a good father in not only supporting his two families, but also taking them on trips. However, both Chris and his father seem to have a stubborn side to their personalities, where they each have to be right, which may have lead to them clashing. For example, Chris never wanted to take instruction from anyone, and Walt was extremely temperamental and always had to be in control. As Krakauer writes, “according to members of the extended family, his moods can be dark and mercurial; although they say his famous temper has lost much of its volatility in recent years” (105). This shows that Walt really did care about his son. It kind of goes to show you don’t know what you have until you loose it. Walt may have thought of Chris fondly, but chances are he didn’t always come off this way; and although he is quoted in saying, “when I suggested he work on the gaps in his game, he refused to listen.” Chris may have seen this as Walt being jealous, or trying to nag him. On the other hand, Chris’s poor attitude and lack of appreciation for his parents and for rules may have lead to his death. Still, no one is entirely at fault in the situation. Walt attempted to be the best father he could, and Chris believed that he was doing the right thing. Chris was passionate, and had a good heart. No one is guilty in the story, or rather everyone is guilty. It is really the tragic downfall of mankind that is shown here, which is not being able to perceive ourselves as we really are. If we did, we would be able to more adequately address our vices and change them.
There is nobody to blame in this story. Life happens. We cannot change the past, we can only move on. Do I think Chris was wrong in how he felt, no. Do I think him running off into Alaska was a mistake, no. I do feel that completely writing everyone off was his downfall. Like I mentioned earlier, there is a piece of Chris in all of us. I admire him for what he did. If I were him I would still drop the parents a line or two so they wouldn't worry. Growing up we don't see the faults of our parents, and as we get older, the dirt from family is dug up. Sometimes it is upsetting and everyone deals with these situations differently. Chris was very letdown when he found out of his father's other life. He felt betrayed, and so he ran away. He let his anger, resentment and bitterness grow towards his father. Most people at this age don't really see eye-to-eye with their parents and so we question our family's longheld beliefs, values, morals and ideals. This is normal. The way in which we deal with this varies among individuals. Sadly, a lot of father/child relationships are not great ones, especially in todays society, and this is very unfortunate. I think Chris's speech he gave after receiving the telescope from his father was hard for him to do, and it was his way of some sort of closure to his family before he left. I don't think that Chris planned on dying out there. People our age most of the time feel indestructible and feel like we can achieve anything at times because we are young and still have a long life ahead. In reality at anytime, anyone can die. If anything, I think we can all learn something from this story, and can be reminded that nobody is perfect. Our family is our family whether we like it or not and they are the ones who will be there in the end. It is a reminder to forgive before its too late. I feel sympathy for his parents, especially his mother, but I don't think we should hate him for what he did. People deal with things differently, and nobody can predict the future.
The relationship between Chris and his father was ok but I feel that his father never really understood his son and that is where the problems began. If a twelve years old wants to climb a mountain then let them! My parents never stopped me from exploring I was allowed to run around the Colorado woods at a younger age then twelve. His father seemed to always be trying to put Chris in a box and confirm him to society. Clearly Chris was a great kid but from this chapter it seemed that his dad was always pushing him to be the best in things Chris did not care that much about. Sports are not for everyone.
My favorite part of the chapter was the part about running and how he used running as a release. He really food joy in the world and clearly his parents did not get it. His child hood relates a little to mine. My parents always pouched for sports and for me to be better it took them a while to understand that my love was animals and the only sport I cared about was that of Horseback riding although I would never view it as a sport.
I loved the talk of his sheltie Buck I can just see the dog and him running around, Shelties are loyal and fast but still their own being I like how they would always race. My first sheltie Merlin and me would always explore together and take on the world, and now lance is by my side. Anyone who inters with shelties has to be a cool person ok just joking still I liked that part of the book.
I think were Chris fell up short was that he never really tried to let his parents understand him he just grow resentful. He let his dog (sister’s dog) in and they understood each if he had let his parents in maybe they would have understood but instead he just pushed and did his own thing. It is clear that his lack of listening was his down fall. Sometimes you can learn from people and Chris seemed to always just do it his way even if he ended up suffering, like in his physics class.
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