Chris Mccandless 'Freedom Of Peace'

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Jordan Small English 1102 Professor Hendricks 17 September 2014 Freedom of Peace In the novel Into the Wild, the reader is introduced to a young man named Chris McCandless. From the outside looking in, one would say McCandless was destined for greatness. Having attended Emory University and vocalizing plans about possibly making his way to law school, it seemed as though there was no doubt the McCandless would end up being nothing short of successful. However, due to another idea of what success truly was, McCandless set his eyes on nature. Finally deciding what it was he was going to do, McCandless said, “I've decided I'm going to live this life for some time to come. The freedom and simple beauty is just too good to pass up.” Clearly…show more content…
But did he fully understand how rocky the trail would be? According to Jim Gallien, “Livin’ in the bush ain’t no picnic” (Krakauer 5). These are words that McCandless seemed to take lightly. Having no control over what nature decided to do, Chris face several things that would have made anyone else give up on what it is they set out to do. First, a flood came, forcing him to leave his car behind. However, instead of losing faith in his actions, he celebrated having to leave his car behind. Not only did he shed himself of a vehicle, but he also got rid of food, cash, and hunting materials. Another aspect of the trip Chris didn’t take into consideration was how the climate would affect his plans. For example, at the end of his journey, McCandless decides it was time for him to go home but the frozen river he had crossed had now melted and it made it difficult for him to return. Ultimately, this would lead to occurrences causing his death. This aspect of McCandless journey is what caused people to believe he was mentally ill or had a suicide wish, when it is very possible that neither is true. Chris was simply determined to do what it was he set out to do. When seeing someone else with this drive and determination, for example someone who wants to become a doctor or if McCandless would have committed to becoming a lawyer, people form a type of admiration. But Chris is doing something that…show more content…
It forced him not to be vulnerable with other people, but with himself and find the happiness he had been searching for his whole life. Many people believed it was crazy, but it was what Chris wanted that was of the most importance. And in a country where “individualism” is promoted, through his journey Chris McCandless showed that people are not as different as they consider themselves to be. Though his method of finding himself may not be popular amongst many, the importance was that he fulfilled what he had believed to be his destiny, to simply be set apart from the
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