How does it feel to have lost contact with someone who meant so much to you? This was the mutual feeling for too many people after meeting Mr. Christopher McCandless of Annandale, VA. Parents, sisters, friends and acquaintances made along the way, lost contact with Chris after leaving town and going on his “Great Alaskan Adventure” to “Find himself.” Shortly after graduating college from Emory University, Chris McCandless made road trips all through the United States, while making his journey to the frigid north. McCandless was aware of the fatal possibilities that accompanied this trip, yet was still positive that this was what he wanted to do. I believe it is not any persons place to call him stupid, insane or spoiled for simply following his heart.
Chris differed from most young adults. He had morals and stuck to them, no matter the standards height. When Chris would engage in things, you would never find him putting only half his heart into it. He felt accomplishment solely, through arête. In chapter 12 page 142, it states “More even than most teens, he tended to see things in black and white. He measured himself and those around him by an impossibly rigorous moral code.” If Chris were to go on a soul-searching experience, his peers would not have found it a surprise that he went out to Alaska, alone, and on the least amount of supplies that survival allowed. Chris just wanted to be the best person he possibly could. This adventure should have been expected of him. Chris not taking this trip may have been almost hypocritical of him, after stressing to Ron Franz about how important it is to see what Mother Nature has given to you. You have to go after things before it’s too late.
Chris lived his life as being the “perfect child,” molded by his parents. He was captain of sports teams, he had perfect grades and he got along well with his sibling. After graduating from Emory University with almost perfect grades, it was rightfully his turn to do something for himself. In Chapter 7 on page 64 is says, "He brooded at length over what he perceived to be his father's moral shortcomings, the hypocrisy of his parents life styles, the tyranny of their conditional love.” If you spent your entire life doing what someone else wanted you to do, what would you do for yourself?
Underlined in a book found in the bus was this following passage: “You had to learn to walk by yourself. There was no one around, neither family nor people whose judgment you respected. At such a time you felt the need of committing yourself to something absolute- life or truth of beauty- of being ruled by it in place of man-made rules that have been discarded." Chris wanted to be able to survive on his own, in the wild. While he loved his sister so dearly he cut all strings just to be able to live like this.
While some may say that McCandless was just a spoiled rich kid who didn’t know what he wanted, many would disagree. McCandless worked hard for his grades, not having much of a social life and following by his parent’s strict rules. He basically raised his little sister, since his parents were always working. Although he appreciated what his parents did, he never really accepted their “conditional loving” ways. Living out in the wild and having the little amount he did, he was still so thankful for everything that ever stepped into his life. Found in the back of a book, on a blank page, was a “brief adios,” written by Chris before his death. It states, "I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL."
Chris touched so many hearts. He showed them what Mother Nature had to offer, he told them it was necessary to live off the land for once in your life, because it makes you a better person. Along with the fact that Chris knew this was exactly what he wanted to do and after living the way his parents wanted to for so long, it was time he did something for himself. Chris wanted to be able to rest assured that he was able to live off the wild, independently. Through all that he went through, he was always grateful for everything that was ever in his life, he thanks god for it. I believe Chris was a good person who does not deserve to be called stupid or insane for doing exactly what he wanted.
