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Into the Wild

Part 1: Chapters 7-9

The onset of the book “Into the Wild” gives the reader a view of a 24-year-old McCandless whose body is found lifeless in an abandoned bus at the backwoods of Alaska. Like a twentieth century anchorite, he was using the bus as a ready and rough bivouac. Chapters 7-9 of the book serve testament on Jon Krakauer’s criticism he received from his setting on Chris’ story. Many viewers were rude and came mainly from people in Alaska who thought Chris acted in a foolish manner when he failed to lay out a good plan. In this case, I am in agreement with them; if one is planning to go out in the wild and live there for a few months, then protocol dictates that he or she should carry proper clothing, equipment, and food. Nevertheless, upon reading this section, people who give criticism over Chris’ adventure did not understand what he was up to and did not know him.

People living in Alaska fostered the notion that Chris was an individual seeking mere adventure similar to all other young men who visit Alaska. Contrary to their belief, Chris was serious on his adventure. Later, it comes to the reader’s knowledge that more hikers begin to have similar mind to bearing to that of Chris. They are ready and willing to hike and live into Alaska and risk freezing, starving to death and at the extreme committing suicide. From my own point of view, Chris’ decision to backpack through the wilderness should be considered a suicide mission let alone a massive risk.

Chapter seven to nine spaciously employs the theme of environment through a rendered account of moodscape and landscape. Long scenes incorporated with descriptive words flow through each other as McCandless searches for American freedom. Activities like riding boxcars, hitchhiking or taking transient jobs are what interest him. Krakauer’s scenes in these chapters give an imagery theme; one in particular in chapter eight where the theme colors are described as ochres, browns, and sunset yellows; ones that can be associated with 1970’s indie cinemas.

Chapter 9 allows the reader to understand that McCandless has been suffering from a dysfunctional and regressive condition, or in other words, the fear of interacting with other people. His childhood cruelties and current condition are what led him to making that decision. The theme of social relationships comes through negatively in the form of communication breakdown for McCandless in chapter nine. His sad fate less merely interacts with the people he encounters. He insists on leave taking on an enigmatic venture through his unaffected charm to break people’s hearts as well in the course of the journey. In one of the conversations with Franz, he states that Franz is wrong when he dwells in the notion that life joys come from social relationships.

Part 2: Chapter 10-12

In this section, McCandless clearly depicts his character as romantic and idealistic. However, he is ill driven, selfish, and stubborn. He bears the urge of immersing himself into the nature and letting go of his material possessions. The reader is made aware that this decision partly comes from his outrageous desire to punish his parents for the cruelties and lies still embedded into his memories; cruelties he and his sister had to endure agonizingly when they were children. This is yet another theme of rebellion.

The reader cannot help but ask whether McCandless was right in the statement he made to Franz. Similar to many other people, the knack to engage in extreme sports involving danger was McCandless’ way of embracing nature by scorning equipment and training for convectional hiking as more from the world of materialism. This experience would truly transform his character and make it harder; going into the world unarmed with any appropriate tools or survival knowledge. I find it fascinating when the writer depicts him making an open fire out of his last dollar bills, right before he abandons his car on the desert edge.

The last scenes of the Chapter 12 show McCandless spending his time reading a book. The theme of contradiction is then depicted. A while back, McCandless in his conversation with Franz stated that the purpose and joy of living did not lie with social interaction. How is the decision to read a book not an action of being socially interactive? After doing so for a week, several months and years, would the words eventually take the form of meaningless inscriptions? This book demonstrates the dichotomy and idealism in McCandless. He at one time takes up work when he is in need of money and at another time burns it or decides leaves it behind.

Obviously, he held his own ideals, but he lacked in the knowledge that no one could live alone in the earth. Today’s time and age dictate that money, material possessions, and social interaction are necessary for living. One can try to understand why McCandless decided to live off alone in Alaska, but it is hard to comprehend why he did so without ample preparation, training, equipment, and food. In my view, one should hold life most dear, and a gift to be treasured.