A Unique Man Essay Example for Free

A Unique Man Essay The novel Into the Wild, written by author Jon Krakauer, takes place in the western portion of the United States during the late 1980s, early 1990s. Chris McCandless grew up in Washington D.C. and attended college at Emory University. He did not live an ordinary life by choice. He abandoned his opportunities after graduation and decided to travel out west for his own enjoyment and self-discovery. Chris McCandless is very different from an ordinary person because he explores life to the fullest and does not believe in society’s perception of what a person’s life should be. Chris McCandless did not need materialistic items to make his life more enjoyable; he only needed Mother Nature and his own motivation. For example, Chris does not want a new or better car because he is perfectly content with the Datsun, an old car passed down to him by his parents. His parents wanted to buy him a new car; however, he disagreed and became upset at the idea of having a new car in his possession. Chris’s perspective on the situation is that the Datsun is still in very good condition, therefore there is no reason to replace it with a more advanced car. Additionally, Chris donates over $24,000 to Oxfam International, a poverty eradication charity. The money that he donated to Oxfam International was originally given to him by his parents. However, Chris believed that this money was just a distraction and in order to make a point that he did not need the extra money and that he was satisfied with his life, he decided to donate it. Furthermore, before Chris began his adventurous journey for Alaska, he burned the rest of his money that he owned into ashes. He thought that money was just a distraction for what you could accomplish. One thing that Chris realized was that in life money is not everything, and happiness and tranquility cannot always be bought. The same thing goes for materialistic objects which are considered a distraction and unnecessary in the overall vision of the ideal life. In conclusion, Chris never needed materials or money to feel happy; he just needed motivation, nature, and the wild. Chris McCandless was always viewed differently by others since he lived an unordinary lifestyle. He would explain his theories and view of life to many others during his adventure to Alaska. For example, Wayne Westerberg, the first man to encounter McCandless on his vigorous adventure. Chris wasn’t prepared for the wild with the supplies he had, Westerberg helped him out with more advanced supplies. Chris shared his story with Wayne and they talked about their views on the lifestyle. Chris gave his input, but Wayne thought he was wild and out of his mind, but he liked Chris. Additionally, Chris encountered Jan Burres. Chris told Jan about his goals that he set for Alaska and the long adventure. At first Jan did not have must interest in of the matter. Then she gave her own insight on the hardships he would face and what he would need. Jan told Chris that he would have to acquire a job and shelter. Also, she said Chris would need plenty of food and water to prevent starvation during his traveling. Furthermore, Ron Franz was an old man Chris came across on his endeavor for Alaska. McCandless told his story towards his perspective on societies thoughts on what life should consist of. Franz thought he had interesting points and was a clever young man. Chris even convinced Franz to climb a mountain at one point to see a great view Chris had found. Chris encouraged Franz to take a risk and leave his everyday lifestyle and had him climb a steep mountain. In conclusion, Chris was an inspiration to many other people with his unordinary perspectives on the valuable things you occur in life. Chris McCandless would rather risk his life for his thrill of the adventure and nature than play it safe and be like everyone else. For example, McCandless has a main goal of traveling all the way to Alaska by foot. Chris did have a vehicle, the Datsun, but he abandoned the car and continued his quest for Alaska. On his way to Alaska he is offered help, such as food and shelter, and sometimes he would reject the help and continue on. He had the knowledge and skills to build his own shelter and obtain his own food. Also, he does not want or need valuables or materials to be satisfied. One example of this is the action of Chris donating over twenty thousand dollars to an organization. Another example is when Chris burns the remaining money he has left. Soon after he burns his money he abandons his longtime car, the Datsun. Furthermore, Chris prepares vigorously for hardships he could be unaware about of the wilderness. He would read multiple books as some preparation for the vigorous adventure from the United States to Alaska. He also gathered advice from multiple people he met during his traveling and took what people said into consideration. Chris possessed a guide that told him about different kinds of plants and if they were poisonous or not. In conclusion, Chris likes the idea of adventure, the challenges he will face, and the beauty of nature. Chris McCandless does what he believes life should consist of instead of accepting society’s view of what the normal life is. I think Chris succeeded in trying to live a transcendental lifestyle. He took on a grueling challenge that not many people would even consider. Even though he died on his adventure to Alaska, he was probably one of the bravest men to ever live. Also, Chris’ arrogance was not an obstacle to his success in achieving his goals, it was a confidence boost. His arrogance was a sign of confidence and knowledge, unfortunately he didn’t make it to Alaska. In conclusion, Chris succeeded in being what he viewed as a man and this brave man died trying to achieve a very unique thing.