Nature Writing

Into the Wild


Choose two of the following:





1. Read the italicized passage on page 168 that McCandless wrote and the italicized passage he highlighted from Tolstoy on page 169. Based on these writings and events in this chapter, what convinced McCandless that it was time to return to civilization? What did he learn from his time “in the wild”?

Mccandless learned that being in the wild isn't as easy as he thought. Hunting food was hard, but preserving it was easy as well. He was ready, mentally, to kill other animals, and he felt guilty and heart broken when he needed to kill the moose just ot survive. He didn't know the basics of preserving food. So he pretty much learned he didn't have the 'hunter's' mindset, and killing wasn't for him.
He read two books by men that had spent their time in the wild, and realized their passion and happiness was in the stability of life, and helping of others. McCandless understood this and decided that he was ready to go home. He had been out in the wild long enough and it finally dawned on him that, yes, being independent and self reliant is fun, but stability and consistency is also good.



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 feel that Chris' need for the wilderness and to live the life he lived was really good for him. Some people love to deal with stocks, which is really boring in most eyes.  Some people enjoy the army or drawing crazy paintings. The people that love doing this, take on these jobs because they have a passion for it. These jobs bring them joy and excitement... or whatever they enjoy it for. So, nothing positive may not have come out of  Chris McCandless lifestyle for the people that had nothing ot do with him, but for Chris, this lifestyle helped him understand himself and give him the fulfillment and mind-clearing that he needed. And i admire Chris for his adventure. He did what he wanted to do, what he dreamed of doing. He followed his passion, dispite his fears of water, despite his hunger and starvation, despite everything he didn't know and everything he had yet to understand about Alask and the different people he would meet. He did what he loved, and most people don't do what they love in their entire lifetime. And that makes his actions and adventures admirable.