Chris McCandless's impact.

Chris McCandless on his journey met many people on his adventures. These people changed in different ways because of this man. McCandless met a man named Ron Franz, but after McCandless’s death, Franz "couldn't believe in a God who would let something that terrible happen to a boy like Alex"(60). This shows what kind of impact McCandless has on people. Even if people thought he was dirty or gross; there were those close to him that thought otherwise. These people were able to understand his feelings and get to know him.

McCandless is able to influence people around him unintentionally. His actions were able to speak louder than his words; his journey allowed him to change himself and others. McCandless meets Gaylord Stuckey, although Stuckey is unable to give hitchhikers rides, McCandless's presence alters his decisions. When they rode together "Stuckey had come to enjoy McCandless's company he changed his mind"(159). McCandless was able to show Stuckey he wasn't just some hitchhiker, he was a person.

When McCandless left his mother without a words, she was hurt. Just as any mother is worried when their son is gone, she is the same. His mother "breaks down from time to time, weeping as only a mother who has outlived a child can weep, betraying a sense of loss "(132).McCandless may have just been a hitchhiker, but he meant a great deal to others. His mom loved him.

McCandless may not have believed himself as a huge impact, but others belief in him show otherwise. His actions although they may not seem great seem to great to others, his adventures are now a book and even a movie. These are just some demonstration about how great McCandless's journey was. McCandless's journey to discover himself revealed that he allowed others to find themselves along the journey. His journey needs admiration for his ability to influence others, not the adventure itself.

The Struggle of Chris McCandless.

What people don't understand about Chris McCandless is how he's adventurous in many ways. He escaped life with what others believed was no reason; of course, he had his own reasons. Many people would think it's a bit weird for him to Get up and leave; however, they look at his escape With their own perspectives. The people who judged his actions were most likely people with a mindset of money who were oblivious from an idea of escape. The truth is their experiences are nothing like his.

Growing up with money McCandless was exposed to a life full of material. These experiences can change someone's mindset positively or negatively. There are People in this world who have different experiences. Some people with little experience "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"(56). These experiences make them live life with different ideas and dreams. Students live their life with dreams of going to schools such as Harvard; Chris McCandless had dreams of exploring the world. These different worlds lead to a different decision that others may not agree with. People, however,  go ahead with their dream because it's what makes them happy.

Chris McCandless is an outsider compared to everyone else. Maybe for that reason, people are so judgmental and criticize him. Chris was just tired and felt he wanted independence with no one to tell him anything. McCandless "was thrilled to be on his way north, and he was relieved as well—relieved that he had again evaded the impending threat of human intimacy"(55). His decisions were made on personal feelings. He decided to throw his life away and start a new one. He did not want to be remembered for being academically great, but he wanted an identity he was proud of. A person who lives life for himself and not for others even if he does not get praised.

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Who did Chris McCandless Escape from?

As one grows up, they tend to realize many things on their own for example how they feel. People realize the truth of their life; are they going to continue their life or make a change. Chris McCandless did everything an individual would in life; he had a family; he went to school; went to college; graduated college. Throughout his life, he figured out something that many other people wouldn't understand about him.

McCandless is an outsider compared to others. That's why he was different in his own ways thinking differently from others. His mindset was ahead but different from other people. There's always people who will always be against you for what you believe in and for what you love to do. "Ten days and nights of freight trains and hitchhiking bring him to the great white North. No longer to be poisoned by civilization he flees and walks alone upon the"(163). What Chris McCandless did was block everyone off from; he decided to get away from it all. everyone receives independence at one point in life. McCandless's chance after college allowed him from reality and explore on your own.

He wasn't able to live in the world full of material so he left. He traveled western America and some of Mexico to find an adventure. Chris McCandless was able to find himself and what he enjoyed, something he would not be able to do back home. McCandless was not able to live life with his beliefs with  parents who obsessed with possessions, he wanted to live a life away from all that wealth. His decision of changing his name and donating his money was a submission from his past and progression to his future.  Chris McCandless' actions show that he was not trying to get away from his family, but he was trying to get away from reality and most importantly his past.

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Note: He was a man that disappeared in the wild.

Would Chris McCandless want to be remembered?

Chris McCandless with his own idea of an adventure would not understand the interest in his story. He did not see his adventure as a chance for fame but a chance to escape. McCandless knew he had limits when taking risks but he still took them anyways. He demonstrated his confidence through dangerous acts of blind traveling. He chose to travel with what he carried on his backpack. This shows more confidence than any man.

Chris McCandless wanted to find joy in his adventures. He chose to pursue a path in what he believed was great; not what others believed was great. His abandonment of life and parents prove he only cares in what he wants. Although these actions may seem selfish, he only wished for his happiness. People try "to make sense of McCandless’s life and death, yet his essence remains slippery, vague, elusive"(186). McCandless took a path of life not many choose to follow. His independent nature shows he would not enjoy this false fame. Like he escaped his future, he would escape the fame. He was not a man of possession as he donated his money to charity. His adventures were not a chance for him to escape from his parents, but a chance to escape reality. His did something we all dream to do, grab our backpacks and just leave. We want to escape our troubles.

Chris McCandless was able to create a new life. His actions prove he has no need for glory; he would escape in his own world. Even if he is at the brink of death, he would still find his own adventure. He puts hard work into anything because he is that type of man. He is an adventurer who left on his own and stayed on his own.

Was Chris McCandless a hero or a fool?

Chris McCandless became a public figure when Jon Krakauer published his story in the Outside article in January 1993. While many may sympathize with McCandless's story other people view his story in a negative perspective. Chris McCandless, to many was viewed as an independent; he had no intention of his story to become this popular; he had no intention of being viewed as a hero. The dictionary defines a hero as a person idealized for their achievements or noble qualities. Many argue that Chris McCandless fits this description; however, others argue that he is not a hero.

Chris McCandless was adventurous, he did not let danger get in his way. McCandless was the definition of a courageous man even when hope was lost McCandless kept going. His adventure around the United States demonstrated his ability as a hero. "The climactic battle to kill the false ... No longer to be poisoned by civilization he flees, and walks alone upon the land to become lost in the wild"(163).His adventure was not an adventure to explore the world, but an adventure to find the real himself. His adventure showed a quality not many people have, initiative. Many people have dreams that they are too afraid to show others; however Chris McCandless took it upon himself to make his dream a reality. although his idea  may seem idiotic, he was not afraid to take the risk even though he was unsure of the future. McCandless was able to make his dream a reality even when he knew no one would approve, the only thing that mattered was his happiness.

McCandless is not seen as a hero to all. His adventures while indeed cool, are not a hero worthy. McCandless "would have walked out of the woods…as anonymously as he had walked into them. Instead, his innocent mistake .. his name became the stuff of tabloid headlines, and his bewildered family was left clutching the shards of a fierce and painful love"(Author's Note, Krakauer). Many people feel trapped in their existence once in awhile, but Chris McCandless chose to do something about it. Others choose not to follow the path of Chris McCandless because we have responsibilities to our family and friends. McCandless chose to abandon them with no regret or remorse. In life a person must come to a conclusion that the world does not revolve around them; they must think about others too. Although his actions show that he is adventurous, his actions also show some selfish traits. He chose to make his parents worry without a notice or a letter. A hero would never make people worry; he would put the feelings of others before his own.

Chris McCandless called both a hero or selfish is only human. He chose what was best for him; he wanted to forget the world and its troubles. McCandless's story was not a story of a hero; it was a story of a man with a dream who took his courage to complete his dream. He was only a human who could deal with the problems the world threw at him. His story shows us all that if we want to do something to not let doubt overcome us. His actions were not hero-like, but he revealed to us that if we want to do anything there is nothing in this world that can stop us.