Nature Reading Start

2. Krakauer observes that it is not “unusual for a young man to be drawn to a pursuit considered reckless by his elders.” Explain whether McCandless would agree with Krakauer.

I think McCandless would agree with Krakauer that it is not unusual for a young man to be attracted to pursue something that would be considered reckless by his elders. From what I learned about Chris McCandless (Alex Superchamp), he was a very adventure driven man who had a lot of emotion and spite built up inside of him that was sheltered by his spontaneous and friendly personality. His actions I feel are semi malicious, in the way that he is acting out against the rules that society has placed on him. He despised the fact that Americans are so dependent on materialistic items, therefore acting out in order to prove something to us, himself and his broken family. He knew what he was doing it and why he was doing it. These types of actions are not unusual in people, especially men, with past experiences that have left them feeling alone or unnoticed. They feel they need to take risks in order to test their limits, which after all they had been doing all along at home, testing limits. I believe Chris would agree with Krakauer that it is a natural thing for young men to feel the need to test limits that are seen as reckless by elders close to them.

3. Do you feel, as one letter writer did, that there is “nothing positive at all about Chris McCandless’ lifestyle or wilderness doctrine …surviving a near death experience does not make you a better human it makes you damn lucky” (116); or do you see something admirable or noble in his struggles and adventures? Was he justified in the pain he brought to family and friends in choosing his own solitary course in life?

No I do not see Chris McCandless’ lifestyle in the wilderness was a completely negative experience. It is a very common thing for people to want to be free from society’s borders and rules, causing them to make themselves detached from the world we live in. It is a very risky and selfish action, but then again it is extremely admirable. He did it, something that people wish to have the strength to do, yet wake up the next day to continue the cycle. I feel the pain that he brought upon his family was not intended. He was not upset with them only; he was upset with the world. I believe that as he grew weaker in Alaska, he began to regret a lot of his malicious actions towards them, yet still believed the decision he made was the right one, allowing him to die happily.