Positive Traits:
Un-materialistic: Christopher was not very connected to things. He gave up many of his belongings and money before commencing on his journey
Determined: Christopher was sure that he needed to go to Alaska and nothing could change his mind.
Optimistic: Christopher was always happy about whatever good thing happened in his life. He was very thankful for things.
Negative Traits:
Hard-headed: If Christopher wanted to do something, he did it. Nobody could change his mind.
Impatient: Christopher was not a fan of waiting for things, and this did not play out in his favor.
Stubborn: Christopher did not listen to other people's advice and wanted to do things his way.
The one trait McCandless posseses which I believe to be the strongest is the fact that he was extremely determined. He spent a long time mentally and physically preparing himself for his journey in Alaska. Christopher was not likely to give up on anything, and I greatly admire him for that fact. Many people would say he was stubborn for that, but I believe he was just very committed. If not for his determination, Christopher would most likely not have even started his journey in the first place.
Krakauer felt connected with Christopher on many levels:
1. Both were disappointed in their fathers. (134)
2. Both loved traveling in the wilderness. (134)
3. Both of them did not have great parental figures. (134)
4. Both were extremely determined in their interests. (134)
5. Both longed for adventure. (135)
They did have a number of differences though:
1. Krakauer actually survived. (155)
2. Krakauer was dependent on people. (154)
3. Krakauer was not against living a normal life. (153)
4. Krakauer was not as intelligent as Christopher school wise. (155)
5. Christopher was much more of a free thinker. (155)
Monday, October 22, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Into the Wild Blog #4
1. I believe that Christopher McCandless maybe applied for a job at McDonalds in order to experience the culture that he was so desperately trying to escape. He wanted to know what really was so intriguing about the life that many people live and why they believe that it really is so much better than the life he is living. I also believe that McCandless' co-workers described him as strange and that he worked at the same leisurely pace the whole time he was there. They also believed that he was quite quirky due to the fact that he was extremely against wearing shoes. I think that if I were one of McCandless' co-workers, I would definitely try to avoid him and think that he was a strange character.
2. Chris has a very good relationship with Jan and Bob Burres. This is mainly because they did not judge or question him for the most part. I believe that Jan and Bob were trying so hard to have a good relationship with him because they too had a son around his age whom they did not speak with. They thought of him when being around Christopher and wished that whoever were to cross paths with their son to do the same.
3. I think that Ronald Franz was deeply affected by Christopher McCandless' appearance in his life due to the fact that Franz was extremely lonely. Being eighty years old and living by himself for the majority of his life, Franz was just delighted to be able to have somebody such as Christopher to talk to. Franz's family had died in a car accident many decades beforehand, and he thought of Christopher as his child. Franz even wanted to officially adopt him as son if he survived in the Alaskan wilderness. Once Christopher left, Franz was all by himself once again, and he just did not know what to do. Franz even gave up his religion and became an atheist with the death of his "son" Christopher McCandless.
2. Chris has a very good relationship with Jan and Bob Burres. This is mainly because they did not judge or question him for the most part. I believe that Jan and Bob were trying so hard to have a good relationship with him because they too had a son around his age whom they did not speak with. They thought of him when being around Christopher and wished that whoever were to cross paths with their son to do the same.
3. I think that Ronald Franz was deeply affected by Christopher McCandless' appearance in his life due to the fact that Franz was extremely lonely. Being eighty years old and living by himself for the majority of his life, Franz was just delighted to be able to have somebody such as Christopher to talk to. Franz's family had died in a car accident many decades beforehand, and he thought of Christopher as his child. Franz even wanted to officially adopt him as son if he survived in the Alaskan wilderness. Once Christopher left, Franz was all by himself once again, and he just did not know what to do. Franz even gave up his religion and became an atheist with the death of his "son" Christopher McCandless.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Into the Wild Blog #3
1) Christopher McCandless is all of the following things:
1. Does not have a good relationship with his parents
2. Wants very much to travel to Alaska
3. Cannot stay in one place for a long time
4. Loves reading
5. Takes a photographic journal
6. Does not hold strongly to possessions
7. Has a migratory lifestyle
8. Is actually quite smart
9. Is very determined
10. Gave all of his funds to a hunger foundation
11. Prizes being alive
12. Feels a tad uncomfortable in society
13. Avid about nature
14. Persistent in his journey
15. Writes a journal in the third person
16. Is Christian due to mention of God "God bless you" (pg 33)
17. Abandons his prized vehicle
18. Burns his cash
19. Befriends an old couple
20. Had a private investigator after him
2) From the note that Christopher McCandless wrote to his family on page 23, one would not be able to tell of what would happen next. Christopher only writes of his grades and the weather; His parents would have no reason to think that he would run away, yet he did. To me, the note would not make me think that there was anything wrong with him at all. I was not greatly surprised by the note due to the fact that I would expect McCandless to keep his journey a secret as long as possible. I can definitely tell though, that him and his parents were not very close at all. The note showed absolutely no emotion and was very to-the-point. When Christopher says to his family, "I think I am going to disappear for awhile" (page 21), he knew exactly what he had in mind, but he did not want to let anybody know at that point or maybe even at all.
3) I believe that Christopher was after a brand new life. He might have problems with his parents, friends, or other people in his life and want to get away from them. He might also have made such a huge mistake in his life that he feels that the only way to get away from the pain of it is to begin a completely new life. Another situation could be if he were trying to avoid a possibly dangerous person in his life that was stalking him or something. Since I am not in any of these situations, it is impossible for me to even fathom what it would be like, but these are a few of my guesses.
1. Does not have a good relationship with his parents
2. Wants very much to travel to Alaska
3. Cannot stay in one place for a long time
4. Loves reading
5. Takes a photographic journal
6. Does not hold strongly to possessions
7. Has a migratory lifestyle
8. Is actually quite smart
9. Is very determined
10. Gave all of his funds to a hunger foundation
11. Prizes being alive
12. Feels a tad uncomfortable in society
13. Avid about nature
14. Persistent in his journey
15. Writes a journal in the third person
16. Is Christian due to mention of God "God bless you" (pg 33)
17. Abandons his prized vehicle
18. Burns his cash
19. Befriends an old couple
20. Had a private investigator after him
2) From the note that Christopher McCandless wrote to his family on page 23, one would not be able to tell of what would happen next. Christopher only writes of his grades and the weather; His parents would have no reason to think that he would run away, yet he did. To me, the note would not make me think that there was anything wrong with him at all. I was not greatly surprised by the note due to the fact that I would expect McCandless to keep his journey a secret as long as possible. I can definitely tell though, that him and his parents were not very close at all. The note showed absolutely no emotion and was very to-the-point. When Christopher says to his family, "I think I am going to disappear for awhile" (page 21), he knew exactly what he had in mind, but he did not want to let anybody know at that point or maybe even at all.
3) I believe that Christopher was after a brand new life. He might have problems with his parents, friends, or other people in his life and want to get away from them. He might also have made such a huge mistake in his life that he feels that the only way to get away from the pain of it is to begin a completely new life. Another situation could be if he were trying to avoid a possibly dangerous person in his life that was stalking him or something. Since I am not in any of these situations, it is impossible for me to even fathom what it would be like, but these are a few of my guesses.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Into the Wild Blog #2
1. In chapter one, the provisions listed that Christopher McCandless used in his journey were extremely limited. All that he had was a ten pound bag of rice, an old pair of raggy hiking boots, and a gun. I believe the Christopher wished to go on his journey with as little objects as possible, but I am sure that he realized that he did not have enough supplies or even experience in order to survive successfully in the deep wilderness of Alaska. I also deeply believe that Christopher was attempting to completely reinvent his way of life. He was wishing to live in the simplest way possible.
2. I actually really enjoy the fact that the author of the novel, Jon Krakauer, began the story at the very end. By doing so, the author added a sense of mystery and eeriness that would have been completely absent if not incorporated. Knowing the outcome but not the reason behind it makes one know what they are searching for within the novel. I also feel as if I understand McCandless' motivation a little better by beginning the story in the exact way that he did, but it only made known a tiny aspect of his life, which made me judge him a little more harshly.
3. The S.O.S. quote in the book actually scared me a little. It made me realize just how dire the situation McCandless was in and just how completely unprepared he was for this whole situation. The note that he left showed great desperation. He was willing to do anything in order to get back the life that he had so wanted to get rid of. I believe that Christopher was extremely unwise to go into this wilderness so unprepared, especially since he had previously been living in an extremely civilized part of America with everything being provided to him. I see deep regret in his note, but this regret came much too late to save his life.
2. I actually really enjoy the fact that the author of the novel, Jon Krakauer, began the story at the very end. By doing so, the author added a sense of mystery and eeriness that would have been completely absent if not incorporated. Knowing the outcome but not the reason behind it makes one know what they are searching for within the novel. I also feel as if I understand McCandless' motivation a little better by beginning the story in the exact way that he did, but it only made known a tiny aspect of his life, which made me judge him a little more harshly.
3. The S.O.S. quote in the book actually scared me a little. It made me realize just how dire the situation McCandless was in and just how completely unprepared he was for this whole situation. The note that he left showed great desperation. He was willing to do anything in order to get back the life that he had so wanted to get rid of. I believe that Christopher was extremely unwise to go into this wilderness so unprepared, especially since he had previously been living in an extremely civilized part of America with everything being provided to him. I see deep regret in his note, but this regret came much too late to save his life.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Into the Wild Blog #1
From what I've read so far in the novel Into the Wild, my conclusion on Christopher McCandless' actions is that he was an extremely confused individual. He felt as if something in his life was missing, and he wished for some deeper meaning of what life truly had to bring. The novel clearly describes McCandless as an extremely smart man. He read Tolstoy and appeared to be very well-educated. In chapter three, Westerberg states that “You could tell right away that Alex was intelligent (Krakauer 18).". Alex was Christopher’s alias; a way of him concealing his past. While McCandless’ decision to go out into the woods seemed quite brash,he most likely spent a long time contemplating the consequences of his actions, even though they ended up in his untimely death. That being said, I cannot be sure of the fact that Christopher or "Alex" was completely mentally stable. Christopher McCandless must have had something truly life changing go on in his life in order to commence such a journey.
It would take a whole lot for me to drop everything and leave it behind in search of the great unknown. He left behind his whole life: his family, friends, school, money, home, and every single possession he owned. For most people it would take an extremely significant emotional event, whether it be the death of a family member, friend, or loved one, going through a tragic event, a change of mind, a change or heart, or simply getting tired of going through the motions. I really do admire McCandless for being able to go through what he did. I personally would not call Christopher McCandless revolutionary, but nobody can deny that he was an extremely brave man indeed.
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