Blog 27

Into the Wild

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”?

-Being reborn to him was realizing the truth to what life means. living has no circumstances. Appreciating the things in life, and what he once took for granted, until now. Truth and honesty, reality, being independent and able to survive is when he knew it was time to go back. It is how someone relates to a situation that has true value. He realized its time to return to civilization, he is ready.


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?

-Going into the wild was noble, through struggles and adventures to find a deeper meaning of everything. The values of life, circumstances people take every day, jobs and tasks needed to be done. Entering the wild with no experience or equipment, shows the determination and value of his surroundings. To have survive a near death experience makes him appreciate the things in life, a man who justs gets lucky will go on life just stubborn minded of past events in life or future. Chris was a man who lived life for the values of it and to the fullest nothing less.