Into the Wild Chris McCandless is a Coward - 1193 Words

The distinction between whether an individual is to be considered a hero or a coward lies in their death. The difference is the impact, and the impact differs for a hero than a coward. When a hero dies, the magnitude of the impact on society is greater as society reflects on all the positive achievements that have been accomplished. Their death is more of a rebirth of a soul, the rebirth of hope. However, a coward dies many times before their actual death. The mistakes and tragic falls are considered to be these multiple deaths. â€Å"The valiant never taste of death but once†, a quote said by William Shakespeare. Throughout the novel of Into the Wild by Jon Krakeur, Chris McCandless is thought to be a courageous hero by many.†¦show more content†¦Chris was a great student, completing Emory College with straight As and then without any notice, was gone. He donated his savings and â€Å"burned all his cash† (20) and he gave his â€Å"money to OXFAM to fight hun ger†(31). He could have used his skills and charm to help every charity in the country. he could have ben a lawyer for the poor and oppressed. His problem was that â€Å" you attempted to talk him out of something, he wouldn’t argue. He just nodded his head politely and did what he wanted† (119). His parents were under the impression that he was on his way to law school to help society but â€Å"they misread him† (20). He disappeared from it all instead of facing the challenges that everyone must face about their family, society and future. What seems most hurtful and regrettable is Chris’ resentment towards the parents who did so much for him. Chris spent two years with no contact, and now they will never be able to see him again. His childishness clouded his judgment, and caused him to rewrite history, convincing him that his parents were his enemy when instead, they were supportive and proud of Chris. It was shameful â€Å"that a kid with so mu ch compassion could his parents so much pain†(104). His travels seemed to be an escape from his family, and a reactionary revenge against his comfortable life. Something strange was happening to him, he became resentful of the life offeredShow MoreRelatedThe Character of Chris McCandless in Jon Krakauer’s, Into the Wild1059 Words   |  5 PagesThe appeal of being a coward is the opposite of being an adventurous, free-spirited young man; both behaviors contradict each other. Nevertheless, an individual with both characteristics can be identified in Jon Krakauer’s, Into the Wild. Christopher McCandless has a sublime life, until he decides to abandon his standard of living and isolate himself in order to endure a risky life-taking adventure. One may consider McCandless as an adventurer for challenging himself and living off the land, butRead MoreEssay On Chris Mccandless1371 Words   |  6 PagesJake Schuman Prof. Tuck ENGL M01A MW 5 P.M 4 December 2017 Forever in the Wild Chris McCandless was a hero to many people throughout his life and he was often considered a hero to most. But, a lot of people criticized his errors along the journey. When Chris died, his impact on society was mostly positive, and the people who he met remembered his accomplishments that he has made in their life. His passing let people remember him for what he has done to help others along the way. HisRead MoreDialectical Journal- The Things They Carried and Into the Wild4405 Words   |  18 Pagesin the chapter â€Å"On the Rainy River† when O’Brien ran away to Canada after he had been drafted that he felt this way. The only reason that he returned home only to go to war was because he was worried about people in his hometown thinking he was a coward. Also, later in the book, O’Brien ends up killing a man, which is mentioned in the quote. Not only did O’Brien kill the man on impulse but mostly because the other men pressured him too. He proves in this quote that the main fears during war were