Analysis of McCandless's Courage in Into the Wild Essay Sample

Oftentimes I found myself as a child in the back seat of my parents car. My eyes glued to the window that showed me long stretches of roads hugged by forests on either side. I imagined what it would be like to live in nature surrounded by plants and trees. The quiet and the peace and what true enjoyment I would feel there. But as a little kid I thought that was almost impossible. There is a certain way of life and that was not the way I could live. I didn’t even think it was allowed. As a child with the biggest imagination possible I never imagined that it would be possible to live in the wild. Into the Wild authored by Jon Krakauer, paints a picture of Chris McCandless’s great Alaskan odyssey. Chris McCandless was brave through his determination, hard work, and self reliance on his adventures into the wild. 

Many argue after hearing the story of Chris McCandless that he was reckless, ill-prepared and dangerous in his attempts. People tended to group McCandless with countless others who had no common sense. There are several testaments of people that knew Chris that oppose this idea. Krakauer summarizes this when he says, “his life hummed with meaning and purpose. But the meaning he wrested from existence lay beyond the comfortable path: McCandless distrusted the value of things that came easily. He demanded much of himself.” (Krakauer 184). Chris was not recklessly abandoning life but searching for a better one with determination. His courage was built upon his ability to withstand uncomfortable situations. And his determination throughout them. On his journey, McCandless found himself in a restricted area at the Yuma Proving Ground where many would have been afraid and turned back, “McCandless was deterred not in the least” (Krakauer 33). He continued on later to write a positive letter to his friend Wayne despite his circumstances. Chris’s ability to continue on with motivation through difficult terrain proves his bravery. No matter the challenges, Chris did his best to get past them.

Another way McCandless showed courage was through his hard work. Chris did not live in a time with a shortage of transportation. He could easily take a plane or car to Alaska.  But McCandless understood that he would find the greatest appreciation of nature through his rough travels to Alaska. Everett Ruess is compared to McCandess because of the parallel between their stories. Krakauer meets Ken Sleight who investigates the journey of Ruess. He was also familiar with the story of Chris McCandless. Sleight mentions, “But him and McCandless, at least they tried to follow their dream. That’s what’s great about them. They tried.” (Krakauer 96). It takes effort to follow dreams. The simplest path is to live in an accepted society in an accepted life with no hard challenges. It takes hard work to live the best life possible. Even if it killed him, McCandless’s hardwork and bravery led him to the happiest life he could’ve had.  Chris returned to the slabs to help his old friend Wayne Westerburg with a job. When working with Wayne in the slabs the author mentions how McCandless, “did calisthenics each morning to get in shape for the rigors of the bush,” (Krakauer 45). He was never aimlessly attempting to reach Alaska without strategy or preparation for it. He worked diligently to prepare himself to achieve it.  Being a hard worker was part of his identity and he made it a habit to be in the right physical shape to survive Alaska or at least try. It took courage for McCandless to prepare himself instead of fleeing back to his physical comfort. 

Finally Chris is courageous because of his reliance on himself. When others may have gone through this adventure with friends or companions Chris was by himself and depended on himself. He spent some of his time on his trip creating friendly relationships with others. They were able to see that he was very independent despite his social nature.  Chris had also become friends with Jan Burres in the Slabs and had told her about his previous adventures. The  author writes something that Jan Burres shares, “‘I thought he’d be fine in the end,’ she reflects. ‘He was smart. He’d figured out how to paddle a canoe down Mexico, how to hop freight trains, how to score a bed at inner-city missions. He figured that all out on his own, and I felt sure he’d figure out Alaska, too.’” (Krakauer 46). People were confident in his ability to conquer Alaska by himself. It must have taken plenty of bravery for him to go it alone. Jon Krakauer experienced a thrilling trip to the devil’s thumb which he narrowly survived, “The fact that I survived my Alaska adventure and McCandless did not survive his was largely a matter of chance.” (Krakauer 155). In saying this the author explains that both him and McCandless were both capable of their journeys. The simple difference was that Chris did not have luck at his side. Chris relied on himself in all that he did. He had no family to talk to and no friends to travel with and he did it all with very little luck. That would take true bravery. 

The Alaskan Odyssey of Chris McCandless is a story of his determination, hard work, and self reliance. People in the world often confine to a normal life miserably but Chris courageously followed his dreams willing to let people think he was dangerous.