In the words of John Krakauer So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. If asked to describe Chris Mcandless in Into The Wild one could say that he is simply foolish. McCandless also ate the potato seeds, based on the advice of an authoritative edible plant guide, which left out some little known, yet important information about swainosine that could have saved McCandless's life. He travels into unforgiving territory in Alaska and does not make it out alive, foolishly not having been adequately prepared for life in this wilderness, even though it may have "made the journey more enjoyable." His smarts give him the ability to hold conversations with a variety of different people. Into the Wild contains many significant quotes that provide readers with a glimpse into the life and mind of Christopher McCandless. ", "In reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. This passage illuminates McCandlesss deep problems with intimacy, which are very central in his ultimately fatal two-year quest for meaning and peace. He didnt bring enough food for himself and all he relied on was eating plants and berries from the wild. All he was trying to do was get away from the corrupt world. Krakauer thus repositions McCandlesss escape into the wild as less than idealistic and instead as a shirking of responsibility to those who love him. No longer would he answer to Chris McCandless; he was now Alexander Supertramp, master of his own destiny. Since it was my parents who had granted him permission to tell Chriss story, Idoubted that much of the truth would be told. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. The reader is thus given a sturdy footing in the literal and metaphorical terrain Into the Wild will explore. He made a lot of mistakes based on ignorance. Billie McCandlesss pictures affect her because they enforce her sense that his primary role in life pertained to their family and to his childhood. Krakauer attributes McCandless's death to "one or two seemingly insignificant blunders" his inability to circumvent a system of dangerous rapids on the Stampede Trail and mistakenly eating potato seeds laced with a poisonous mold. Krakauer writes: Devils Thumb mountain in Southeastern Alaska. An aesthetic voyager whose home is the road. McCandlesswritesin "The Wild Truth" that her father bore children with both of his wives in the same time period, and that her parents have lied publicly about the overlapping time frame. Summary: Chapter 15 Maybe McCandless reminds them a little too much of their former selves.. A pilgrim, perhaps.". A pilgrim, perhaps. Whether or not they actually tookresponsibility for the loss of Chris, they were suffering. McCandless became quite an adventurous man and loved being out in nature where he can feel safe and content. Read Christopher McCandless' quotes, find their analyses, and understand their significance in the story. Put that pizza box in the trash. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer traces the real life journey of Chris McCandless when he gives up everything that he has, even donating his funds to charity and cuts ties with his loving and totally bewildered, family. Although he was rash, untutored in the ways of the backcountry, and incautious to the point of foolhardiness, he wasnt incompetenthe wouldnt have lasted 113 days if he were. "It wasn't the seeds of the wild potato that had done McCandless in; he was probably killed The implication of this passage is that, had McCandless survived, he likely would have ended up maturinglearning to be close to people, to forgive flaws in those he loved, to interact with society and the world in less extreme ways. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Compare and contrast themes from other texts to this theme, The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Arrogance, Innocence, and Ignorance appears in each chapter of. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, "The Dark Continent" of Ambiguity in Jon Krakauers Into the Wild. It is hardly unusual for a young man to be drawn to a pursuit considered reckless by his elders; engaging in risky behavior is a rite of passage in our culture no less than in most others. Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. While Chris did not go into the Alaskan bush on a suicide mission, he took the bare minimum in terms of supplies, leaving little room for error and requiring that he live off the land. He had just made a formal agreement withmy parents to expand his efforts into a book, and asked if he could come toVirginia Beach to interview me at greater length. He seems to be trying to escape from the responsibilities and bonds of human relationships; by going into the wild, alone, with no way to contact the outside world, and by having to focus his full attention on keeping himself alive, he cannot be called on to participate in relationships with those who care most about him. This statement, made by Shaun Callarman, pertains to Chris McCandlesss trek into Alaska that ultimately led to death by starvation. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Supertramp was a way for McCandless to live outside of the constraints that being Chris McCandless had created for him, that way of life killed him. Prior to eating the poisonous food, Chris tries to cross the river that he had easily traveled through in the spring. on 50-99 accounts. Speaking to friends that McCandless met through his travels allowed Krakauer to learn who he became on his journey. 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Both of these quotes emphasize the fact that he felt the need to be utterly alone. They are designed to help readers understand him better. She explains in her book. You are the only one who can ensure your own happiness. Carine McCandless, The Wild Truth 11 likes Like Why cant you just understand that not having a plan is my plan? Chris implored. His "newborn cunning," an over-confident belief in his ability to hide his true inner strength, is perhaps a contributor to his lack of insight in not adequately preparing for his extended trip despite his attempts to be responsible and earn some money. --NO GAME. Into the Wild is a biographical non-fiction novel by Jon Krakauer about the life and death of Christopher McCandless, who, after traveling the country for two years in an attempt to achieve a sense of freedom, died in Alaska after 112 days alone in the wild. WebSignificant irony emerges as Krakauer literally steps into the places where McCandless spent his last days and reviews the mistakes that led, one after another, to his death. Alexander Supertramp May 1992", "I have lived through much, and now I think I have found what is needed for happiness. He writes: Jon Krakauer used information that he was able to collect along with personal experience in an attempt to explain who Christopher McCandless was and why he died, taking the opinion that he was not to blame, nor was he suicidal. Like McCandless, figures of male authority aroused in me a confusing medley of corked fury and hunger to please. Writers are constantly trying to convince readers to start reading and keep reading. WebSince chapters 12 and 13 have been covered, I will focus on chapter 14. These quotes relate to the chapter's themes: the hostility of the Alaskan and the discovery of Chris's body by hunters. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! In Into the Wild, how does Chris McCandless feel about his family, and how does Chris's family feel about him? Since it is now winter, he is unable to do so and is forced to retreat back to the bus. The intense focus required to survive such activities means that the mundane problems of daily life cannot intrude, and Krakauer can reach a kind of meditative state. In the passage, Krakauer weighs in strongly on the recklessness of McCandlesss behavior, presenting a turn in the narrative of his investigation into McCandlesss character. Not only did he throw common sense to the wind, he also went into the wild leaving behind many people who loved and cared deeply about him. It might be a very long time before I return South. Krakauer thus reveals the paradox underlying all ventures of self-discoverythough motivated by a thirst for knowledge and experience such journeys are inevitably underwritten by a lack of both. The bush is an unforgiving place, however, that cares nothing for hope or longing. Dozens of predictions were made on how Chris died. FAULT OF POT. He was clearly not party to what I fearedmight be my parents agenda. No phone, no pool, no pets, no cigarettes. "I had an epiphany," he writes. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. If this adventure proves fatal and you don't ever hear from me again, I want you to know you're a great man. While regarding photographs of Christopher McCandlesss childhood, Billie McCandless reveals to the narrator the depth of her sorrow at her sons death. 'I guess I just cant help identifying with the guy, Roman allows as he pokes the coals with a stick. McCandlesss supposed cause of death has changed since he died varying from mold in the seeds to an amino acid called L-canavanine. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Into the Wild is able to give readers a look into the personal life of Chris McCandless through journal entries and postcards he sent to friends that he met along the way. .and put a match to it. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an WebChris McCandless took this selfie in the meadow outside the bus shortly before he died. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Just as Jon was preparing to head back to the airport, I felt an overwhelmingreassurance come over me. This passage is emblematic of the problem at the core of McCandlesss story. It foreshadows, too, Krakauers entanglement in McCandlesss story and the retelling of his near-fatal mountain climbing excursion when he was in his twenties. Later on he decides to travel around the world, but kills himself. When Krakauer spoke to one of Chris's high school friends about the rocky relationship he had with his parents, his friend said: McCandless had originally taken off on his adventure in his car, but after a flash flood and Chris's inability to jump start it, eager to avoid a run-in with the rangers, he abandoned the car and set off on foot. Near the end of his journey, Chris had read the book, Doctor Zhivago and written in the margins, "HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED." This passage underscores that McCandlesss behavior is not completely unique or unusual. The same was apparently true of their mother, Billie McCandless, though Walt McCandless gained considerable weight by eating compulsively. Chris also hadnt spoken to his family in nearly two years(Krakauer 6). Not affiliated with Harvard College. 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