Into the Wild Blog #5

Positive                                                                                                                                        Negative

Caring                                                                                                                                         Spontaneous

Committed                                                                                                                                Determined

Reliable                                                                                                                                        Reckless

 

I think Chris was caring, committed, and reliable. He was a hard worker and committed to any and every job that he had.  Chris would not only always show up to work but would show up on time making him very reliable.  Once he committed to something he didn’t just walk away and I believe that these are important traits.  Chris also went out of his way to help others.  He was extremely benevolent and tried making those who were less fortunate them him better.   Sadly, McCandless wasn’t all that and a bag of potato chips.  He was very spontaneous and deserted his family out of nowhere which I think was little of him.  He also exhibited reckless behavior and rarely acts like the common man.  Finally Chris is determined, which may sound like a good positive thing but it is not.  Determination is usually a positive trait but when someone is determinded to do something that is hazardous to their health, it becomes a negative trait.  Chris is too determined to prove everyone wrong and to discover himself in the wild and his determination causes him to pay the ultimate price.  If Chris was to be associated with one specific trait, it would be committed.  No matter what it is he is doing, nine times out of ten, Chris is whole-heartedly committed to it.  Everyone sees him as being committed to his journey and to his pride and beliefs. 

 

Both Krakauer and McCandless have a path and their paths parallel each others for multiple reasons starting with the fact that both went on expeditions into the wilderness (pg. 135).  Both men were in their early twenties when they undergoes their journeys (pg. 135), both decided to travel alone (pg. 135), both faced obsession (pg. 134), and both men had a rebellious side to them when it came to male authority.  However, these two men did show some differences as well that include: unlike McCandless, Krakauer noticed that he was unprepared (pg. 135), McCandless never showed any sign of feeling lonely unlike Krakauer (pg. 138), Krakauer lives to tell his tale while McCandless is found deceased (pg. 1), Krakauer didn’t let his pride get in the way and wouldn’t turn down help from others (pg. 137), and ultimately, Krakauer was more socially tolerant (pg. 137).