American Literature

Into the wild by John Kraukauer is an interesting story that looks through the western American from the eye of an adventurer who chose to forsake both his family and an assured future. Kraukauer, in this masterpiece, makes an enlightening picture which symbolizes the greedy characteristic of man through obsession. Man in nature therefore sums up the dominant thematic aspect of Into the wild. Chris McCandless deeply believes that his important joy in life originates from his close association with nature. John Kraukauer therefore employs his own perceptive in presenting these ideas, thus pointing out many evidences to bring up his argument. For instance, through point of view, Kraukauer underscores how Chris McCandless ultimately became foolish as seen in how he met his end due to negligence and his own death wish. Into the Wild is a mouthpiece that Kraukauer uses to exposes that the overconfidence of a brave as well as a brilliant young man in the society, may yield to destruction if care is not taken into account. Into the wild is shaped together by excerpts from Chris McCandless as well as the experiences of Kraukauer, which brings about a convincing tale of undeterred adventure into the wilderness.

Kraukauers success in revealing the theme of futility as a result of mans obsessive nature lies in his search for the original cause of what drives these insatiable desires and obsession. Durst (46-48) asserts that the answer to such question may be found in the inborn drive that propelled the young Chris McCandless to leave his family, a brighter future and modern life and head into the wilderness in the remote Alaska. This primarily led to the destruction of McCandless four months later, as his body was found by the hunter in his campsite (Kraukauer, 112-114).

Through such an angle, Kraukauer builds up the concept of futility in mans efforts to satisfy his insatiable ego. With regard to this, he digs deep by exposing the inherent and convincing mysteries of people in society who are not contented with their positions. Into the Wild equally loosens the riddle that holds the larger mystery of obsession by undercutting the deep effects of the American wilderness, compounded by the attraction of highly risky ventures as well as activities and influenced by the relationship between fathers and their sons.

In addition, Miller (65-66) points out that the force behind McCandless departure into the wilderness resonate the failed fatherly role in initiating the young men into the American culture. As a result, these young men experiment on their own about what may be good for their lives and future. With regard to this, Hinter (87-89) further asserts that McCandless decision to live the civilized America for the Alaskan wilderness echoes the innocent mistakes that young people make. As the effects of such mistakes turn out to be fatal and irreversible, Kraukauer explores that the irresponsible paternity becomes evident as McCandless hit the headlines and is dismissed on grounds of his pretentiousness, naivety and lack of vision.

According to Durst (49-51), McCandless is said to be a person responsible for his death because he definitely wanted to die. Although it is quite ironical that one can willfully want to die and eventually goes ahead to execute the same thoughts, Kraukauer presents that the desire for close association with nature should be fair so that the negative effects of death may be avoided. Into the Wild is a mouthpiece that Kraukauer uses to expose the difficulties, dangers, and the uncompromising attempt of McCandless to move out of the shadows.

It is plausible to note that Into the wild not only reflects the need for identity, but equally questions the utility of how the society is ready to battle with issues of morality as well as materiality. It is clear that McCandless was running from a cold home. In other words, it was problems at home that brought him into sharp focus the destructive destination of McCandless (Kraukauer, 112-113). Therefore, it goes without saying that he was attempting a search for inner peace, a place where he would trace his meaning and that is why he chose to be closely linked with nature. Although the devastating end results eluded him, Kraukauer presents this experience in an indirect plan such that many of the readers may show little or no sympathy for McCandless and thereby fail to understand all that led to his destiny.

From a different dimension that is a way from the destruction of his own unguided decision, Kraukauer excavates the tragedy of McCandless for the hope and beauty that can be found in nature. He brings out the impression of a peaceful atmosphere where one is in touch with wild fruits spilling down the riverbanks, the natural figure of a mountain trimming along the sky and brings out the idea of an environment where one can reflect upon life and eventually appreciate the beauty of life. Miller (57-58) argues that Into the wild fosters a symbol of a society where no one cares for the plights of others and the only source of fulfillment and satisfaction is evident in nature. It is a tale that leaves us wondering how our screwed up lives, leaves us hurting others in the society but when poor judgment is used to address all these, we continue closing our minds , judge and criticize other a factor that  leaves us more lonely and troubled. This becomes the source of many deaths in the American society because, whether we look at Chris McCandless as a failed person or brave enough to have faced his own problems, one point remains evident that he perished as a result of loneliness and fear.  Into the Wild therefore calls upon us to embrace all the understanding as well as compassion for others in the society.

According to Hinter (213-115), a number of people suffering the same fate as that of McCandless are drawn by Kraukauer to underscore the decay of morality in the capitalist society. This is in a bid to think about the need to essential change in the lifestyles of people. For example, several people in Into the Wild lead unhappy lives and yet unlike McCandless, they take no bold step to address their unhappy situations (Kraukauer, 74-77). Probably, this scenario is obvious as a result of security, conservativeness and conformity in the capitalist society. It also articulates the reason why McCandless embraced a spirit that was guided by his passing for adventure.

It is arguable that the joy of life is deep in our attempts to try out newer experiences built around the endlessness in the changing features of our possibility as well as exploring different sun sets each day of our lives. However, Kraukauer implies that much can be gotten out of our lives if we lose touch with our monotonous routine ad explore risky ventures like McCandless. On the same note, Durst (142-143) postulates that irrespective of the misfortunes that characterized McCandless explorative spirit, it remains obvious that if such move is properly constructed, it yield incredible life that is filled with beauty and meaning.

Into the wild portrays a number of unconventional personalities. McCandless became a leather tramp as a result of surrendering his car and comfortable life and choose to live like a beggar. The sense to escape his life overwhelmed him to an extent of being tramped and thus changing his name to Alexander all within the intentions to leave his past life. He went wherever the road could lead him (Kraukauer, 152-154). As a consequence, McCandless struggled against the society a pointer of Kraukauers central conflict in the novel. He encompasses what is arguably called greed in the society and the monotonous mode of livelihood which somehow slides one into unsatisfactory kind of life. The picture that Kraukauer centers is the McCandless struggles against the parents, McDonald his boss and his eventual fights in the wilderness, in a bid to survive in Alaska. For example, Gallien says of McCandless that  those people who think that they came to Alaska and live in our land should know that living in the bush is not picnic (Kraukauer, p 5).

To recap, Kraukauer uses Into the wild to  comment on the unified effort of the society to adorn the robe of kindness such that regardless of the understanding that the society is filled with evil people, we can rise above this and meet everybody by showing them compassion, as well as kindness. McCandless, meet a host of people who become instrumental in helping him get a job as well as accommodate him. For example, Westerberg says that a number of hitchhikers whom he gave jobs over the years were not good enough but Alex is the hardest worker (Kraukauer 17-18). Westerberg and Franz are examples of such people. In addition, Kraukauer proves that wealth is useless as evident in his attempt to forsake all his actions and tramp. Into the Wild is a tour de force that illuminates the efforts of an enigmatic young man in the society in pursuit of a satisfying life.