Chris McCandless: Hero or Fool?
By: Kishan
Does Chris McCandless deserving of being known as a hero to humanity or a deficit to humanity and a person corrupting the youth? McCandless is a young kid looking for happiness through an extreme way of isolating himself from humanity and friends. He left all his friends and family to pursue happiness. People now argue over whether it was the correct decision, if he deserved to die and if he was a fool or a hero to people all over the world. Chris McCandless was more then just a regular person, he was a hero, he was a pioneer and example to all that you should truly chase what makes you happy, but you should know where, how, and what true happiness is first.
Chris was a hero because he had an undeniable determination for what he set his mind to and knew fully about the consequences that may come from his decision. “He wanted to prove to himself that he could make it on his own, without anybody else’s help,” Stuckey said this is what Chris told him (Krakauer) pg. 159. A man with determination that will not quite, like literally not stop till death is hard to come by and Chris was one of those. He was someone that all can learn from, if you want something or love something go out and do it. It will not matter if anyone says “no you can’t do it” Chris always did and always came up out of every situation. He was a unique person and he had a unique drive that young men want to have and need in some situations, but he just took it too far in some situations.
This young man was doing this all for himself making a point for his life, doing something out of the ordinary and sure he wasn't perfect in his decisions, but he was close to it and he almost made it out alive and well, which everyone would have thought he was a heroic figure to do such a deed. “McCandless was thrilled to be on his way north, and he was relieved as well-relieved that he had again evaded the threat of human intimacy of friendship. (Krakauer pg.55)” He lived for the purpose of living. In my mind everyone does die, but not everybody lives. He showed people to be something special and to do what they think is right. Everyone makes mistake, but not everyone makes those mistakes worth it. Chris, he ended up making his mistake worth it and left his mark on the world. It never really mattered to him if he was known or not and it is obvious if you read the book Into the Wild, but for all the critics and haters of this man you still are talking about him and he has made a mark no matter what anyone says or does.
Chris was a proven risk taker; he could handle himself and would come out on top of whatever adventure he took. He just had that confidence mojo, he was arrogant to some, but his story his actions and his past proves that he earned all the arrogance he displays. Jan Burres said, “He was smart. He’d figured out how to paddle a canoe down to Mexico, how to hop freight trains, how to score a bed at inner-city missions. He figured that entire out on his own and I felt sure he’d figure out Alaska, too. (Krakauer pg. 38)” Chris had that mojo that reminds me of a champion someone that knows he is the best and can do what he is doing. That gives me a role model type look from him because I was told to be the best I was supposed to act like the best. He also did what he did because he had earned the right of saying and doing things because he was proven to be able to survive in horrible conditions.
Chris was unprepared and not ready for the adventure he had taken upon and was a lunatic that is corrupting the youths mind. “Alex admitted that the only food in his pack was a ten-pound bag of rice. His gear seemed exceedingly minimal for the harsh conditions of the interior, which in April still lay buried under the winter snowpack. Alex’s cheap leather hiking boots were neither waterproof nor well insulated. His rifle was only .22 calibers, arbore too small to rely on if he expected to kill large animals (Krakauer pg. 7).” McCandless wanted to be less prepared because he wanted the full experience with no shortcuts, he was an intelligent kid and was evident to all that met him and he did not do this for fame he did it for himself, to find happiness. “The heaviest item in McCandless’s half full backpack was his library: 9 or 10 paperbound books, most of which were given to him by Jan Burres in Niland (Krakauer pg. 162).”
Chris was a young adult, on the brinks of becoming a man dealing with so much for so long he had it and just wanted to find himself some peace and happiness with himself and decided going on this improbable adventure would find him happiness which made him a hero for pursuing what he believed in however, he did not truly know what happiness was when he went on this journey and it was too late for him, but we should all look up to this man sure he had some faults, but that does not change the heroicness and bravery he portrayed to mankind. Chris is a hero he may not have been prepared in others minds, but he knew what he was capable of and almost made it with what he brought. McCandless was looking for some self-pleasure, not to have happiness and be a star, but just to be happy and find it doing something crazy which he wasn't perfect at it, but he was sure close and if he had a couple things not be so unlucky he would still be alive today, maybe regarded as a legend and looked upon as a hero. He was a man of adventure he was good at it too. I want you, as the reader, to understand that Chris was an extraordinary person and he was a role model to some, but you should not go as crazy or extreme as him because he made a mistake on what true happiness was, but you should be yourself and do what will make you happy, but make sure you know what being happy is.
