Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer Book Analysis Essay

Into The Wild is a biography by Jon Krakauer that follows the life of a man who put all he had on the line to pursue his ideal image of happiness and discovery. Although it can be noticed that Krakauer withholds certain opinions about the life he chose to lead, he ultimately leaves it up to the readers to form a personal conclusion about Chris McCandless. Differing opinions did arise from this award winning novel, most of which came from polar perspectives. At surface level, it seems like a senseless action to completely disregard the comfortable life you live to seek an uncertain future, but a percentage of the audience is able to approach his life from a sympathetic standpoint. Although this book doesn’t completely unpack the depths of McCandless’s past, Krakauer did justice painting his life in such a way that avoids a negative or pessimistic attitude. Rightfully so, this bias is maintained throughout the novel but is in no way overbearing. Krakauer makes many personal connections throughout the novel, part of which is why he was able to write this story with such a sympathetic tone. But with all his individual beliefs aside, Krakauer was able to construct a novel that did not obscure the name of Chris McCandless, but make his story known, for there is so much to be learned from his journey. 

Krakauer himself had a history when it came to the merciless elements of the wild. The Devil's Thumb was a mountain in which he fixated on primarily because of the risk factors. He knew of the dangers when it came to this specific climb, but oddly enough, this was the main draw. Krakauer states, 

“As I formulated my plan to climb the Thumb, I was dimly aware that I might be getting in over my head. But that only added to the scheme’s appeal. That it wouldn’t be easy was the whole point… I devoted most of my walking hours to fantasizing about, and then undertaking, ascents of remote mountains in Alaska and Canada-obscure spires, steep and frightening, that nobody in the world beyond a handful of climbing geeks had ever heard of” (Krakauer 134-135). 

It can be drawn from this quote that Krakauer and McCandless surprisingly both shared a deep desire for the unknown. Krakauer goes on to explain the philosophy of the young desire for risk. He believes that there is constant supressment of  “undisciplined imagination” in a young man’s mind, some of which act upon, McCandless and Krakauer being one of them. He describes this frame of mind as “obsessive,” and “having a hunger to please,” which only contributes more to the idea that they were both in a position of great uncontentment towards their uniform life. Krakauer’s sympathy towards Chris stemmed from this association to a great extent, so once the similar past of Jon Krakauer is revealed, the point of view in which he retells this story is markedly accounted for. 

Although Krakauer maintains a certain perspective throughout this biography, he doesn’t shy away from the differing opinions centered around who McCandless really was. He provides information from dissimilar voices to construct a fair and open-minded argument. A popular opinion that arose after hearing McCandless’s story was that he was a reckless boy who acted on selfish desires. Krakauer states, 

“By design McCandless came into the country with insufficient provisions, and he lacked certain pieces of equipment deemed essential by many Alaskans: a large-caliber rifle, map and compass, an ax. This has been regarded as evidence not just of stupidity but of the even greater sin of arrogance. Some critics have even drawn parallels between McCandless and the Arctic’s most infamous tragic figure, Sir John Franklin, a nineteenth-century British naval officer whose smugness and hauteur contributed to some 140 deaths, including his own” (Krakauer 180). 

Not only did people express their irked opinions about McCandless’s poor preparation,  some individuals became fairly invested in the lives of those who were heavily acquainted with McCandless.  An article titled, ‘Was Chris McCandless Selfish,’ stated, 

“‘When Ron had found out, he had ‘renounced the Lord…and became an atheist’ as well as started drinking again, for he ‘couldn’t believe in a God’ who would let something like that happen’ (Krakauer 60). Despite their relatively short time together, the old man had grown a strong attachment to Chris. Accordingly, Ron felt devastated at the loss of the young McCandless, for it was enough to push him to abandon his religion and break his resolve to never drink again” (Bartleby Research). 

Chris withheld a mindset that was dominated by his “self-ruling” principals. This ultimately left him blinded to the well being and the effect he could have on those that were close to him. He may have been so drawn to this liberating way of life that every last detail didn’t completely occur to him. This idea was highlighted throughout the novel and supported by Krakauer’s philosophical point that a man's own happiness should be at the forefront of the mind. As selfish as it sounds, Krakauer understood his longing for contentment and therefore incorporated that belief into his interpretation of McCandless.  

After reading the entirety of this biography, some argued the conclusion that Krakauer did not do McCandless justice when outlining the life he lived. The main factor in which people believed he did not approach McCandless’s life from a point of understanding was the way in which he portrayed McCandless’s family life, and ultimately part of the reason he departed from society in the first place. Krakauer states, “Children can be harsh judges when it comes to their parents, disciplined to grant clemency, and this was especially true in Chris’s case. More even than most teens, he tended to see things in black and white. He measured himself and those around him by an impossibly rigorous moral code” (Krakauer 122).  Krakauer also includes a quote concerning McCandless’s mother that states, “As months passed without any word of Chris--and then years--the anguish mounted. Billie never left the house without leaving a note for Chris posted on the door” (Krakauer 125). Because of the way in which Krakauer chose to write this portion of the biography, many believed that he painted McCandless as a man who decided to selfishly live out his personal desires, disregarding the overall well being of his caring family. Later on in the novel, this point is greatly disproved through the clear opinions that Krakauer displayed towards McCandless. He states, 

“It would be easy to stereotype Chris McCandless as another boy who felt too much, a loppy young man who read too many books and lacked even a modicum of common sense. But the stereotype isn’t a good fit. McCandless wasn’t some freckles slacker, adrift and confused, racked by existential despair. To the contrary: His life hummed with meaning and purpose. But the meaning he wrested from existence lay beyond the comfortable path: McCandless distrusted the value of things that came easily. He demanded much of himself--more, in the end, than he could deliver” (Krakauer 184). 

It is clear throughout this quote that Krakauer had completely different opinions from which people collected through his depiction of McCandless’s home life. Although it could be said otherwise, Krakauer completely validates McCandless and his attempt to escape the chains of society. 

All and all, Jon Krakauer was able to construct a biography that lacked an overbearing negative attitude towards the life of Chris McCandless. When encapsulating a certain portrayal of someone that you’ve never actually met, having only the primary sources in which they left behind, and the differing opinions of those who knew him personally, it’s extremely important to approach it from an understanding perspective. Krakauer was able to make personal connections towards McCandless and his unrestrained state of mind which took great part in why he was able to paint him in such a positive light. He examined the actions that took place and was able to sit back and deeply think about all possible reasoning, an important aspect to focus on when outlining the contents of another individual’s life in an opinionated manner. Krakauer was able to include both sides of the argument in his writing without the total obscurity of Chris McCandless’s name. Many thought lowly of McCandless, but Krakauer was able to provide points that refuted such negative opinions. Much could be said about the life that he led but ultimately, the real intentions behind this expedition died with Chris McCandless.