Answer either question A or B.
Question A:
Into the Wild began as an article, turned into a book, and then became a movie. What, in your estimation, makes Chris and his story so appealing? Why have this story captured so many people's attention?
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I believe Into the Wild has affected so many people because Chris McCandless embodies the dream that many people want more than anything to be real. McCandless successfully evaded societal norms and expectations, living a life where he was free to roam, explore, discover, follow any impulse, jump at any calling. He was fearless in a way some may call reckless, but I call it freedom. Unafraid of hunger, homelessness, cold, and other physical extremes, nor of being penniless, he was able to live life where every moment your own mortality if thrown into high relief, where every meal is a feast, everything you own is useful, where every day is teeming with new possibility and adventure. He was skilled and brave enough to live life entirely in the moment. His intensity is the type that is sublime, so powerful that while many do not understand it, they are still fascinated by it. McCandless tested the modern American human’s ability to return to the “most ancient of human conditions, in which you rely on nothing but your hands and your own head.” He proved that it is possible to live life to the fullest, to the greatest and most beautiful potential without money, a career or even a family. The freedom and the unabashed, complete possibility for living life to the fullest that comes with that it intoxicating, even if just to think about. I hope to one day know that freedom for myself, to return to the most ancient of human conditions, to really know myself, to feel so alive that everything seems surreal, to go into the wild.
Chris McCandles was this adventurous guy that was willing to change his identity and leave everything behind to fulfill his dream. He traveled across the nation, working where and when he could, then would move on to where ever else he wanted to go.Chris was determined to go to Alaska and did it with as little money and gear as he could. Everyone has atleast thought about how amazing it would be to break away from the typical way of living and to just go with the flow of nature. In Leonora's reponse to this post, she said, "I hope to one day know that freedom for myself, to return to the most ancient of human conditions, to really know myself, to feel so alive that everything seems surreal, to go into the wild". Everyone wants to find their own way to escape the normal everyday life and get to know themselves without the material objects that some call necessities. I think some people when they read about his story imagine what it would have been like to be in his shoes and experience what he did. The fact that he died doing what he wanted to do always catches people's attention. People are in awe of how dedicated Chris was to follow through with what he wanted to do. I too hope that one day I will pursue my dream, just like Chris did, and even if my dream changes a little bit that I will be happy with what happens.
Chris’ story is so appealing to people because being free from society is what a lot of people wish to do, but are too scared too. When I think about his story I think about the great things he accomplished, and I can feel just a portion of the happiness that he felt. Whether he died or not he lived a happy and peaceful life and the rest of us who hear his story are just struck at his amazing courage and strength. He did what most people only dream about doing. I would love to know that kind of freedom but I also know that I could never leave my family and friends. Because I do not think I could ever live more than a week or two in solitude, I think what I find most appealing about his story are the many close relationships he formed along the way. Although Chris was peaceful and happy I feel that he was also very content with people, maybe not necessarily his parents, but with the awesome people he met through his journey to Alaska. The last book that Chris finished before he passed away was Doctor Zhivago, in it he writes many notes in the margin, one he wrote that captured my attention was, “Happiness only real when shared,” (Krakauer, p. 189, 1996). This message he wrote in the margin of the book tells me that maybe he was finally starting to confess that he did want company and was ready to leave his solitude life. It seems that he was able to reflect upon the great relationships he had with people and was able to pass on knowing that he had had a happy life.
I believe this is such a gripping story of how a boy becomes a man through a long desired journey/adventure and is simply surreal. His journey was recorded and entirely true which makes this story about chris's life not a myth, but a legend. I believe that he was a rebel and many people have dreams of doing things like he did but fail to actually conquer there fears and go out and do what they dream of. This was a tale of kid who defied all of society's norms to discover what he was looking for. I liked the way the movie portrayed him, kind of like a lone ranger looking for happiness and the true place that he felt most comfortable in the world, the rugged wilderness. it is unfortunate however in the way he must die through one little mistake. he was destined to live his life in the moment and not dwell on the past. It is like the saying live everyday like it will be your last. THis is what describes chris mccadless aka alex supertramp.
SO many people have been touched by this story and i think that the article "I Want To Ride In The Bus Chris Died In" kind of porves that point. People take a pilgrimmage to see where he died, what he hiked and i think a major point is that they don't go any further. As Chris makes a point in the book and the movie to Ronald Franz to pack up his life and live on the road, he did. But i think today, the "message" that Chris was preaching about and striving to live on his own is ignored and largely forgotten. I myself am on the fence about this story, on one hand i think the book and movie are well written, well directed and it is intriguing and very romantic in so many ways. On the other hand i cannot agree with so many of Chris's actions that he took. Leaving his family in grief over his dissappearence and death i think is the worst action he could have done. I have also been a boyscout, i have hiked, climbed, sailed, and done most outdoor activites and Chris was just dumb on his account to live off the land and carry minimal gear. I'm not saying he needed high tech, expensive gear, but anyone who has lived outside and travelled knows that you need the right gear and even though Chris thought it was cheating and he wanted to prove a point. His point was proved when he died, he tried to tangle with nature and he lost, that same result happens all the time.
Chris McCandless’s life story is shocking to most people. It is captivating because he breaks all codes of modern society, and instead decides to live on his own in the wild. It is also shocking that he did not stay close to his family. The tragedy of Chris’s death is something that stays with a person. He was well prepared, and only a few mistakes led to be fatal. More shocking than all of these details, is the personality of this man. He was giving, and very different from people today. He was able to totally disconnect from his family, and chose to live a life without modern amenities. Everyone hopes for someone like Chris to live, but he willingly put his life at risk to surrender himself to nature. He was very young, and to many that is hard to deal with. He could have done great things with his life, but he chose not to. Chris’s death made the story astounding. Many people looked up to those like Chris with such strong will. Krakauer quotes Billie, Chris’s mother, when she states, “Many people have told me that they admire Chris for what he was trying to do. If he’d lived, I would agree with them. But he didn’t, and there’s no way to bring him back. You can’t fix it. Most things you can fix, but not that. I don’t know that you ever get over this kind of loss. The fact that Chris is gone is a sharp pain I feel every single day. It’s really hard,” (Krakauer, 203). This quote explains the phenomenon that captures the reader’s attention. The way he left his family, and the fact that they will never be able to make amends is shocking and sad. These all are factors as to why Chris’s life was so interesting.
I think the main thing that makes Chris' story so appealing is the fact that so much is unknown about him and his journey, and on top of that no one can ever know what was really going on in his mind because he's dead now. People tend to like to place themselves in stories such as these, and when thinking about them we pick out what Chris did wrong or missed, and tell ourselves we wouldn’t make his same mistakes. We credit him for allowing us to see what is possible and what isn't possible in his situation, and how we can change it so we could survive.
Chris also allows us to imagine what it would be like if we just got up, created a new identity, and traveled the world alone, in search of something more. That 'something more' being seen as something that cannot be learnt in modern society but must be gradually understood through first-hand experience in nature. I think that Chris believed the only way he could truly escape his family issues, and at the same time do what he wanted, was to get away and start new. I think a lot of people find the idea of creating a new identity somewhat thrilling, being able to live life in any way one wishes, be whoever one desires is stimulating.
The story of Chris McCandless is so appealing for many reasons. First off, he is a brave person who was able to live their dream. Also, he represents the anti conventional person who lives by their own rules. He also endured challenges and seemingly tough circumstances. I believe people are also enfatuated with his story because it ends tragically. There is something intriguing about death, especially an unusual death. Lastly, there are so many variable about the story. No one knows for sure what happened during his disapearance, and so it becomes a sort of adventure piecing the parts together. Chris McCandless's life becomes the story of a tragic hero, who affected many people along his journey to the unknown. He proved himself to be a surviver until he was defeated by a greater force, the wild.
I think Chris and his story is so appealing because of the journey he went through and the situation he was in. He was born in a upper class home and had things some people wish they could have. He had a dream to live in the wild,free from modern technology, and at the same time gain a piece of mind that he felt was missing in his life.He never let anything stand in his way of his ultimate goal which was getting to Alaska and living off the land.What also made his story appealing was his relationship with people Wayne Westerberg and Jan Burress.It seemed like Chris filled a spot in there life that they were missing and that's the reason why they were so eager to help him and convince him to stay. He not only change the readers life but everyone he came in contact with and that show us what kind of person he was.This story captured so much atention because of his passion and determination for the wild and how he died just to fill an empty space in his life.
I think that what makes Chris’ story so appealing is how it all seems like a really big, real life, puzzle. I fell all three mediums (the article, the book, the movie) explore the pieces of this puzzle, so those who, were not part of the tragedy of Chris McCandless’ death, can attempt to understand it a little better. All three of those mediums added a dimension to Chris’ story. The article introduced us to the tragedy, the book gave the details and exploration of the events leading to Chris’ death, and the movie SHOWED us what the people who knew Chris may have felt, and what Chris may have felt on his Alaskan odyssey before he died. I think what appeals to people lies on the details of the story: what little we have from Chris journals, what those who knew him had to say about him and the tragedy, the circumstances of Chris’ death itself. I think this is because people in general are still puzzled when a death happens. Especially when it happens to seemingly good individuals, so stories like Chris McCandless’ keep people wondering. Chris obviously touched the lives of the many people he knew and met, so why did he have to die? I also think what attracts people attention is the exploration of Chris’ death itself, and how, from hearing Chris’ confidence at the beginning of the story, how his death could have been prevented. That sense of “wishing it didn’t happened for the people that went through it sake”. Finally, I think what draws us in to the story is that despite us having the facts, despite learning about Chris through those who know him despite knowing how he died, we are still left wondering about so many things. Chris story still a bit like an unsolved mystery.
I think that Chris's story is appealing to people because he represents the concept of having a dream, and living out that dream to its fullest extent. A lot of people have far fetched aspirations, but they never act on their impulses.
Instead, they waste their precious time that they have, and only wish, and dream about certain things. Chris went against this commonality among our society and he lived through his heart rather than just what his logic told him to do. Although Chris died while living out his dream, I think that his story still is one that offers hope to our society. When I read the book, I got the feeling that Chris died at peace in a way, because his life ended at a stage in his life where he was doing what he loved, and had finally discovered the meaning of life. The hope that his story offers is that it conveys the message that nothing should hold anyone back from living out their dreams in life. The thought of failure, or death, shouldn't matter because what is most important is achieving what each individuals truly desires to accomplish in life.
The story of Into the Wild and Chris McCandless is so appealing because it's a true story of a young man living his dangerous and beautiful dream. The fact that Chris knows there are many risks of living in the wilderness of Alaska but is willing to attempt them nonetheless makes his story even more exciting. The ability to survive either on the road or in the wilderness is dangerous, exciting, and thrilling. Quite simply most people don't have the guts to do it. Most people can't imagine living for that long far away from people and the luxuries of our times. Although many hate the deadlines and responsibilities our culture often demands of us, they provide us safety in the familiar. There are few adventurers who are brave enough to leave this safety behind.
Also, there is no doubt the story is more appealing because Chris’ never returned. The fact that we can only piece Chris’ travels together through journal entries and interviews with people he met along the way leaves us with so many unanswered questions. The reader is constantly wondering “what if” and “why” and there are still no real answers for Chris is not around to tell us. If Chris could answer all these questions I feel like the story would have been much less interesting. The mystery of much of Chris’ travels keeps us intrigued, and without this mystery the story just wouldn’t have been as entertaining and popular.
I want to start off by saying that this book really did not affect me. I guess people are drowning to it because he did what he wanted to and he set out on a journey to find himself. Many people every year die in the Rocky Mountains in search of themselves and many people go out there and survive and come back. I believe those are the people who should be famous. Chris died because he was not woods smart. I grow up in the mountains and have done lots of winter survival work. I feel that it is fine to search for yourself but do it in a smart way. He was notice because he died and then the cops never searched his backpack, I mean really that is the only reason. There are so many great stories out there just spending a day in boulder and you are bound to talk to some hippie who went out into the wild and came back. It is also the mystery behind how he died that got a lot of people and the fact that he is younger but all of it is just guessing through mainly third parties who know him and through well thought out journal entries. I have heard so many great stories about people who lived in the wild that these stories just did not impress me at all. It is meant for people who romanticizes about the wild not for those who live next to it and in it. I do respect the need to find you and how this applies to many I just wish that people could hear the stories that I hear about people living for years off the environment and then returning to society and just being great people to be around.
Chris McCandless is painted as a martyr simply because he died. I honestly believe this story never would have blown up the way it has if he'd lived through his experience. Sure, I could see an article being written about it, maybe an interview in an obscure magazine, but we wouldn't be here discussing him in class.
Chris did what many consider the impossible, living a wild dream of exploring the wilderness with nothing but some rice, arrogance, and skill to keep him alive. People are fascinated by the mystery of his trip. What REALLY happened out there? The story keeps us wondering, and we all have a desire to solve such mysteries.
As many have mentioned in this blog, Chris' story draws in all the people who have always wanted to but never had the guts to pick up, leave, and explore. His story attracts the adults in the 9 to 5 jobs and the kids who go to school, come home watch TV, do their homework and repeat this cycle every day. Although there have been man other stories like Chris' I think his drew more attention because of how brave he was and how smart he was. The others who usually did this probably have not been as educated as Chris which makes people question, "why would he do this?" I think the biggest draw to Chris' story is the amount of unanswered questions there are.
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