Racial Identity Confusion
What someone does or does not do with their life does affect the world around them. Becoming a productive member of society is what is expected from most people today, especially the wealthy. Chris McCandless, from the novel Into the Wild, was the son of a well respected and very rich family, who gave up his whole well-to-do lifestyle. Jon Krakauer's argument, in his novel about McCandless, is if he truly was selfish in abandoning those who loved and cared for him by going off into the wild .McCandless’s quest for “ultimate freedom” was an egocentric choice causing agonizing ache to his beloved ones, although not a selfish act.
McCandless’s childhood was very difficult due to his parents lack of emotional affection towards himself and Carine, his sister. Considering their loneliness Carine and McCandless grew very close to each other and looked up to one another. Even as McCandless grew older he prioritized his sister, “Even when Chris went on to junior high and I was still in grade school, he would get out earlier than I would but he’d hang around art his friend [...]and wait for me so we could walk home together”(123) said Carine. The thought of McCandless caring for his sister in this way was indeed not a selfish act if anything it was generous. Carines safety was McCandless biggest priority as a result of their parents inadequacy of sentimental feeling towards their children. Another contributing part of McCandless’s quest for “ultimate freedom” is this lack of his parents consense. Walt and Billie McCandless were always working “Ever since I could remember mom and dad were always working, when we got up in the morning to go to school they were in the office, when we got home they were in the office, when we went to bed they were in the office, they never really got out of the office [...] it was always just me and chris I think thats mainly the part we were so close to each other”(135) Carine told Krakauer. The thought of McCandless and Carine having
McCandless’s childhood was very difficult due to his parents lack of emotional affection towards himself and Carine, his sister. Considering their loneliness Carine and McCandless grew very close to each other and looked up to one another. Even as McCandless grew older he prioritized his sister, “Even when Chris went on to junior high and I was still in grade school, he would get out earlier than I would but he’d hang around art his friend [...]and wait for me so we could walk home together”(123) said Carine. The thought of McCandless caring for his sister in this way was indeed not a selfish act if anything it was generous. Carines safety was McCandless biggest priority as a result of their parents inadequacy of sentimental feeling towards their children. Another contributing part of McCandless’s quest for “ultimate freedom” is this lack of his parents consense. Walt and Billie McCandless were always working “Ever since I could remember mom and dad were always working, when we got up in the morning to go to school they were in the office, when we got home they were in the office, when we went to bed they were in the office, they never really got out of the office [...] it was always just me and chris I think thats mainly the part we were so close to each other”(135) Carine told Krakauer. The thought of McCandless and Carine having