I Prefer Dangerous Freedom Over Peaceful Slavery

"Chris just didn't like being told what to do. I think he would have been unhappy with any parents; he had trouble with the whole idea of parents."

Topic: Dynamics of Family

           Based on this quote it can be said that the issue Chris McCandless had with his parents was not necessarily their fault. Hathaway, one of Chris's close male friends says this about Chris's relationship with his family. This is an interesting thought, because when McCandless was found dead in the Alaskan wilderness, the media frantically searched for a culprit to this poor, seemingly troubled boy. However, there may not have been a direction to point their fingers, because the potential problem may have been with Chris all along. Chris was an independent young man who felt as though he didn't need the support or advice from a guardian since his youth. This pushed him to feel animosity towards his father in particular since he was an especially controlling person, according to the book. Because Chris did not like being told what to do, he  would have disliked any parents he had, seeing as that's what parents are there to do.

An Eye for An Eye?

"How is it that a kid with so much compassion could cause his parents so much pain?" (Krakauer 104).

Topic: The Dynamics of Family

          Samuel Walter McCandless asks this about Chris regarding his complete and unexpected loss of contact with his parents prior to his unfortunate death on his journey in Alaska. This question is a good one; in that it makes you think about what may have driven such a kind soul to do such a hurtful thing. McCandless is a thoughtful individual who shows great care for the feelings of those he is acquainted to and proves this through his actions. However, it is seemingly out of character for him to commit such a seemingly ruthless act, until one looks at the dynamics within the McCandless family. Many who hear Chris's story are unaware of the fact that his parents have been verbally and physically abusive to him as well as his sister from a young age. Once this is taken into consideration, one can begin to understand why Chris McCandless would do something as distressing as this to his parents. It does, however, bring up an interesting question. Is it fair of Chris to do to his parents what they have done to him, even though he knows the pain of mental abuse?

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

"If he started a job, he's finish it. It was almost like a moral thing for him. He was what you'd call extremely ethical. He set pretty high standards for himself" (Krakauer 18).

Topic: Inspiration or Fool?

          This quote said about Chris McCandless by Wayne Westerberg refers to his eagerness to work. According to Westerberg, Chris was a very diligent worker who took pride in the outcome of his jobs. He didn't resist the tougher and dirtier jobs, and he would finish any job that he was assigned. These attributes are that of an inspiration, rather than a fool. McCandless displays these positive qualities which leads me to believe that he was a highly ethical person who had a lot of integrity. The fact that he expressed who he was  through his actions says a lot about his character. Doing a job well and taking pride in your work without worrying if others notice is an extremely admirable quality. I find it inspiring that McCandless does exactly that. Setting your own standards for yourself can take a lot of discipline because you are your own judge and there are no negative or positive consequences to meeting them. I believe that the traits he possesses and shows through his actions are those that many people need to work on.