Into the Wild- quotes analysis

As Christopher McCandless sets off into the wilderness of Alaska on his own, he takes little with him. He changes his name and leaves everything he has behind such as his education, money, friends, and family. He goes out with few knowledge on the great outdoors but with much confidence as if he has done it several times before. He constantly insists that he knows what he's doing and will be fine. However, he is far from it and in fact is probably less prepared than could ever be. Although some might view him as an idiot or a reckless nutcase, he can often be seen as a heroic and symbolic individual with a great mind and sense of aspiration. 

Many people thought of Chris McCandless as a mature and hard worker. "He was the hardest damn worker  I've ever seen. Didn't matter what it was, he'd do it...and he never quit in the middle of something. If he started a job, he'd finish it. It was almost a moral thing for him" (Krakauer 17). To many, he was an inspiring individual and worked hard for what he wanted. Although it may seem as if he just went into the wilderness and stayed in a remote area surrounded by nothing by himself, he worked hard to fend for himself and survive for the time he did. He walked countless amount of miles all over the country, finding food on his own since he had no money. What he did was not easy, and even though some people hate him for what he did, it's definitely not something everyone can do. In fact, majority of society probably wouldn't have survived as long as he did with as little as he had. 

Along with his sense of hard work, he had a strong determination to discover himself and be happy. "So many people live with unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit with a man than a secure future. The very basic core of man's spirit is his passion for adventure. There is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun" (Krakauer 58). This definitely describes what Chris McCandless set out for. He had a strong passion for the adventure in the wild, to discover life outside of the chaotic rush and daily routine of mainstream America. He was most likely tired of the constant pressure to be something he didn't truly have his heart set on. For him to take initiative and go out in to Last Frontier on his own is unimaginable and something that should be seen as inspirational. I truly believe that he died happy with a great sense of accomplishment. He did something most people would never even consider doing because it's beyond their comfort zone, which makes them believe it's absolutely ridiculous. In fact, it's the complete opposite. People are trapped in their own fears of doing what they love, something that would truly make them happy, and that's exactly what sets Chris McCandless apart from the rest of society. He wasn't afraid and took action in what he believed.