Thursday, July 23, 2009
Into the Wild - the call of danger/excitement
In chapter 17, Krakauer observes that it is not "unusual for a young man to be drawn to a pursuit considered reckless by his elders." Based on the events of the book, do you think McCandless would agree with Krakauer? Why or why not? As a teenager, do you think this statement is true of you, your friends, or people your age in general?
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i think he would have agreed because towards the end he came to realize that "happiness only real when shared" and that makes me come to believe that he was becoming tired with the adventurous life and was growing older. He in fact had decided before even going on the Alaska trip that it would be his final great adventure. i think its pretty true as well because when your our age you feel immortal we do things to test our limits constantly and most the time get yelled at by parents but its all a part of being a teenager. you constantly hear that once we turn eighteen that we are going to go out and do everything adventurous and dangerous and do everything our parents told us not to do, the only thing is no one really takes it as far as McCandless di.
ReplyDeleteI think McCandless would definitely agree. Even though he had a near perfect life at home, he still went against his parents, and took off West. The feeling of freedom is overwhelming. When I got my license, i felt a rush of freedom; i was a whole new person and was more on my own. When McCandless went West without notifying his parents of his whereabouts he gained even more freedom. Who was going to tell that kid what to do? This statement proves true to teens and other people as well. Something about living under your parent's rule for that many years makes you yearn for more freedom, and over time that freedom is earned, I feel McCandless just sped up that process in a way that is a little more extreme.
ReplyDeleteI think McCandless would agree because he wasn't the traditional kind of person. He wanted his own freedom and challenges from a young age. To have freedom for oneself is exhilarating; to be able to hold values for yourself and not have a controlling force above you is every teenagers dream from not having a curfew to driving wherever. Moreover, when McCandless drove west and then on to Alaska he didn't have to succumb to others' rules, just his and his alone. He got to leave when he felt was most appropriate and did what he wanted. However, McCandless seemed as if during his teen years he had freedom but still wanted more as if it was never enough like every traditional teenager. The way he enacted his freedom wasn't the best of ways, but through his story it shows the molds that everyone is defined to and how freedom is easily achieved with sometimes lots lost.
ReplyDeleteHannah Dailey
I believe McCandless would agree because he wanted to go out west on a quest away from humanity. It seems he wanted more freedom and to be away from his parents (like most teenage kids). Being able to decide for himself and "live off the land" was what he wanted, something out of the ordinary that his parents wouldn't agree with. With no connection to any of his family, he gained total freedom. All teenagers want freedom, they would definitely agree with this. It seems as though my friends and I are always looking for the danger and recklessness in everything we do, something that gives us extreme amounts of excitement. McCandless wanted the same thing, but in a more extreme environment, so he went for it.
ReplyDeleteI believe McCandless would agree to Krakauer's statement that it is not unusual for a young man to be drawn to a pursuit considered reckless by his elders because McCandless was the young man in the observation. He was on the road to a good life by going through a university and getting a degree, but he, very similar to other teenagers, had issues communicating with his parents and disagreements on what to do with his life. He had enough of the pressure and expectation society had on him and embraced the lifestyle of living upon the land and the philosophy of living life to the fullest with no regrets. With this, he embarked on his trek to Alaska and did not return. I do not believe in this statement for myself or my friends because I do not feel that urge to break away more than the power of the consequences. I think it is possible for other people my age to think themselves immortal and do things as dangerous as what McCandless did. Anything is possible.
ReplyDeleteMax Fefer
Actually, I think that McCandless might disagree with Krakauer. Many of us do seek rebellious experiences and McCandless WAS a capital example of this, but he didn't consider himself to be such. Based on the events that revealed the personality of Chris McCandless, I think that he would disagree mainly because he thought he was a revolutionary. McCandless ventured into the wild as a narcissistic young man believing he was the only one to have come to such a conclusion. He even planned to write a book on his radical relevations, advising everyone to follow HIS way.
ReplyDeleteKrakauer's observation is solidly correct, but McCandless was a stubborn individual. A stubborn individual who painstakingly regarded himself as unconditionally unique.
As a teenager I have done many things that may not be considered reckless as McCandless had, but inconsiderate and negligent wholly in the name of defying authority. I do things rashly to be contrasting. So did Chris McCandless.
In my opinion, McCandless would not agree with Krakauer's statement. McCandless thought he was the first person to come to the idea to live in nature. In his strive to be different, to avoid being another face in the crowd, he found himself in a different stereotype altogether. Like Everett Ruess and countless others, McCandless was reckless in his ways. Going into the wild, he did not bring sufficient supplies and was not prepared.
ReplyDeleteTeenagers do seem to follow Krakauer's statement. Most do not want to follow someone else's orders and want to be free to do what they want. We feel that our parents or adults in general want to restrict us from doing what we decide. The feeling of being overprotected, which is exactly how McCandless felt about his parents, is not favorable to us.
At the beginning of his journey I don’t believe that McCandless would have agreed with this statement. He believed that he was following his heart toward what he really wanted and would make him happiest in life. As time progressed and he realized that he should consider settling down somewhere, he may have come around to this notion.
ReplyDeleteAs teenagers though, I do believe that we are all drawn toward what parents and other authority figures would deem reckless; some more drawn to it than others. We don’t do this to necessarily be “bad” but to show our independence. As we come to the age of driving we all feel that sudden rush of freedom that first time we are truly in charge of ourselves. That feeling is what drives us to push the boundaries and seek more independence.
As McCandless progressed in his journey I believe that he may have begun to agree with this statement. In the beginning he was attemting to find his "american dream"; however, once he got to Alaska I believe that he began to realize one of his main purposes of his adventure was to show his parents, and the rest of society, that he could survive on his own.
ReplyDeleteI think that statment can be true for teenagers, espically teenage boys. Many people my age try to be defiant to thier parents because they do not want anyone controlling thier lives. Doing reckless things gives teenagers the feeling that they're, in a way, "sticking it to the man". I feel that being reckless is a phase that all of us go through to become our adult selves.
Phoebe Neuman
I believe that McCandless would agree with this statement. Even though Chris led a pretty awesome life he still wanted more, so he headed west to find adventure.After living under his parents wings for so many years he was ready to break free and prove to his family that he was completely capable of living on his own out in the wilderness of the Alaskan bush. Rebelling is just part of growing up. Teenagers fit this statement perfectly because we like to test our limits just to see what we can get away with. Doing reckless things can give teenagers a sense of freedom, and like phoebe said, can help to shape who we will become in the future.
ReplyDeleteJenny Maneatis
Honors English
I believe that McCandless would agree with this statement; however, I do not believe that this idea is what inspired him to take this journey. Although his adventure was considered risky, I believe that McCandless' journey wasn't about getting attention for being dangerous or getting an adrenaline rush, but more about escaping the society that was making him feel claustrophobic. I think he thought that society had expectations that suppressed individuality and so he rebelled to create a new idea of success for himself. I believe some teenagers would agree with Krakauer's statement, but most teenagers who rebel are just trying to become independent and loosen the control our parents have over us.
ReplyDeleteI believe that McCandless would agree with Krakauer. Chris was living a nice life and surround with material goods; however he was not happy with it. Which lead to his actions of leaving his former life and taking matters into his own hands. He had a stubborn personality and therefore would always not listen to what anyone might suggest. When going out on his journey, he felt he needed to have a life filled with excitement and adventure, therefore taking risks which his parents or other adults would never approve of.
ReplyDeleteAs a teenager I do think this statement is true, since all teenagers take some sort of risks. This risk becomes a "challenge" which drives them to make quick and reckless decisions. Is it that you are young or inexperienced? Sometimes it is both and in the case of McCandless, I believe was became obsession and was not going to change his mind by returning to his previous life. He was drawn by his desire to be free and live independently.
Elaina Torres
Originally I don't think this was the reason for Chris' journey but I believe he would have to agree. Part of this whole adventure was him breaking away from the authority of his parents and basically "sticking it to the man." He knew his parents would never understand his motives and thats why he alienated them. However I don't think he went on this whole adventure just to break away from his parents. I interpreted his intentions mainly as breaking away from society and experiencing wilderness full force.
ReplyDeleteI think all teenagers experience a time where they want to rebel against their parents or some higher authority. There are some who actually do and some who actually don't but thats why I think teenagers are always labeled the "troublemakers".
Thoug i do not believe this was Chris's reaoning, i do believe he would agree. Chris's motivation was so much more deep then a childish revenge on his parents. Chris was doing it for himself, no one else. He had nothing to prove to the world. He just wanted to clean himself of the "filth" our society had sucum to. To rid himself of all the extras and get by with the basics.
ReplyDeleteAll teenagers do at one point feel the need to rebel against something. Weither it be parents, a teacher, or a different authority. It happens to everyone.
Shelby Gruber
I think Chris would have completely agreed with that. He knew his parents worried about him, and knew they didnt agree with him putting himself in danger. But he did put his life in danger quite often when it wasn't even necessary. Maby he wanted to worry his parents to show them just how much he could be independent and make it through problems.
ReplyDeleteAs a teengager, i think this statement is true. I have no idea why, but youth does tend to be more reckless. For exqample, teenagers mostly drive alot faster and more recklessly than adults. I believe risks are just more appealing to the youth.
-Josh Meuser
I do think that McCandles would agree with Krakauer. To me, Chris had disagreed and had enough of his parents opinions, ideas, and outlooks on life; therefore, Chris wanted to do something to free himself from that by taking an adventure out to the wilderness. All he wanted was to emancipate himself from mental and emotional slavery and feel a sense of belonging somewhere. With that, he wanted to prove to his family and to the world that he could live the way he wanted without anyone around to stop him.
ReplyDeleteAs a teenager i believe this to be true. Lots of us think we are invincible and think we know everything about anything and can do anything and we test our limits by rebelling. Especially if we want to feel a sense of belonging, teens will go to any extent to find that even if it means being reckless and taking extreme risks. Danger and risks seem to appeal to kids and give them lots of adrenaline which makes life far more fun and exciting. I agree a lot with what Sam Markoe has said above...
-Erin Becker
From what the book tells us about Krakauer and McCandless, they share many similarities. At the beginning of his journey, Chris' motive was to live out the American Dream and "prove to himself that he could make it on his own, without anybody's help" (Krakauer 159), but towards the end of his life, when the harsh reality of his Dream set in, he would have seen, in retrospect, that the underlying reason for his Adventure was exactly as Krakauer had said.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Krakauer. A lot of teenagers feel a mix of independence and invincibility, which makes us want to go against what adults say. We can make reckless and dangerous decisions, but that risk makes the rebellion more thrilling. Although not all teenagers are as extreme as Chris, a good majority of teenagers do rebel in some way or another.
I believe that McCandless would definitely agree with Krakauer. Some people already have their minds made up from an early age and Chris was no exception. Even though he didn't show it too much on the outside that he wanted to escape from the world, deep down he already had a plan to leave and no one was going to stop him from going. He didn't care if people thought he was crazy and didn't expect everyone to understand. So yeah i think that Chris would agree with Krakauer.
ReplyDeleteAs a teenager i believe that Krakauer's statement is true for many of us teens, we want to experience something new and exciting even if that means leaving home for a while. It can get real boring after living under the same roof for sooo long, we aspire to leave and go out and experience the outside world. Many teens yearn for that freedom and are willing to do whatever it takes to taste it.
-Gareth Lee
McCandless would definitely have to agree with Krakauer’s observation about young people being drawn to recklessness because throughout the entire the novel, he had that same sort of ambition. He started off with a great education and a pretty normal lifestyle, but that’s not what he wanted to pursue—he didn’t want to conform to society just like everyone else. He wanted to put some meaning into life and live to its absolute fullest, as well as experience total freedom. Not only that, but he answered the call for danger and excitement. A lot of the time, teenagers especially have that incessant craving for something more, more than just the average or the normal. Being “reckless” definitely isn’t unusual; it’s simply part of the curiosity of human nature to want to try something different. Sometimes you can even discover something amazing by taking a risk or trying something new, it doesn’t always necessarily have to be expressed with a negative connotation.
ReplyDeleteAmanda Burri
English 11 Honors 2010
Kevin Love said...
ReplyDeleteDue to evidence in the book, i am confident that Chris McCandless would agree with Krakauer's statement. He himself is a product of the idea that Krakauer came upon. It is common for youths to do things that parents or elders may not condone. Chris did not have what most people would consider a good relationship with his parents and therefor he rebelled and went off into the wild. He knew that his parents would not be ok with his actions and so he kept them in the dark, to the point where they had no idea to his whereabouts or how he was doing. So he would agree because he knew he was drawn to actions his own parents wouldn't approve of.
As for the second part, there are always going to be people who rebel and go out on adventures that their elders do not think are wise. I know I can speak for most people when I say that teenagers do things that others might think are stupid or irresponsible. It might be that "rite of passage" that Krakauer talks about in the book but many peoples partake in similar actions.
I believe that he agrees with this satement as he was angry with his parents and wanted to rebel agaianst them. He mande up his mind to the fact of going into the wild and anyone trying to tell him diffently was wasteing their time. He only saw the excitment in the adventure and did not calculate the risks that came along with it.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that most teenagers do this in their own lives. we are compeled to do the exciting thing even when we are warned not to. There are those of us who wish to defy our elders just to revolt but i beleive most do not intend to defy them, we just dont weigh the risks.
Ricky Walther
I believe that Chris would agree with this statement, but he also wouldn't care what his elders thought about his "pursuit". By living completely off of the land in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness meant total and complete freedom. He believed that this was the ultimate adventure and although it would be dangerous it would be the most exciting thing he has ever done and that is what he wanted. I believe that teens would also agree with this statement because freedom, to most kids, is the greatest feeling in the world. It makes you feel alone and independent and most teens live for that little taste of freedom.
ReplyDeleteDon Bollard
When you really get to thinking about it, McCandless would have definitely agreed with Krakauer's observation. Krakauer clearly explained that McCandless was never really on good terms with his family, so with that in mind I personally think that McCandless would agree with Krakauer. Throughout my life I know that I've been rebellious towards my parent's, and Sam said "you feel immortal". Basically I feel that way at times, but I as I grow older I begin to respect not only my family but everyone around me for everything they've done. As McCandless got closer and closer to the end of The Road, he started to change. He began to ponder over returing to civilization.
ReplyDeleteI think McCandless would definitely agree with Krakauer's observation as do I. Teenagers and young adults are naturally drawn to the excitement and adrenaline rush of putting themselves in dangerous situations. McCandless seemed to have grown up in an upper middle-high class family. His parents wanted to control Chris and make him go to law school so that he could be more of a success than they were. As a teenager, Chris interpreted their intentions the wrong way and rebelled as any normal teen would. The difference between Chris and normal teenagers however, is that he decided to rebel in an extreme way that inevitably lead to his death.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, McCandless would have agreed with Krakauer's statement because i do think he felt allured about doing something that his elders did not approve of. However, i also think he would have been sure to add that it was not the main reason why he ventured into the wilderness in the first place. I think that Krakauer's statement is very true among most teens today. To many, going against what authority says is okay, is an adrenaline rush that is throughly enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteTatum Jungsten
Spontaneous adventures and independent pursuits that may be considered reckless by elders is exactly what Chris McCandless was looking for. Living off the Alaskan land in the wilderness, for Chris, meant full and complete freedom. Initially, Krakauer clearly explained that Chris had always disagreed with his parents, and the whole "authority" aspect of parents in general. It was not surprising to me that as soon as Chris was on his own, he shut off all comunication with his parents and others who disagreed with his way of living. As a result, he was able to experience a life of excitement and surprise, without any emotional set backs or "parental concerns." Teenagers and young adults, generally speaking, have the same mindset. Going along with what Tatum Jungsten said, the adrenaline rush that comes with disobeying authority is sometimes one of the only reasons for reckless behavior. I think that McCandless would agree with Krakauer's statement because he wanted to rebel against against all forms of authority he deemed as restricting to his carefree and adventurous lifestyle. Chris is easily relatable to most teens in the way that some have to find answers and experience things completely on there own, then with their newfound knowledge they can progress and mature.
ReplyDeleteBrie Simmons
I agree that it's not unusual for teenagers to be drawn to danger and excitement for the simple fact that they have been under their parents wing for so long. Once we get to the age when we think we know everything, that is our initiative to go out and try things that generally are reckless. Chris McCandless did this, but I don't think that this was exclusively out of spite. Not only did he want to send the message to his parents, but the entire counrty of America, that there can be a different kind of American Dream. He wanted to prove to everyone and himself that man can live off the land. Since he is a very headstrong person, he most likely wouldn't agree with kraukauer face to face, since it might seem that kraukauer wouldn't fully understand his reasoning for going to Alaska. It was not just a half hearted pusuit to go against his parents. It was a way of life.
ReplyDeleteCaitlynn Curtis
I Feel like McCandless wouldn't necessarily agree with this statement precisely because of the relationship with his parents. I think he feels like his parents, or at least his dad betrayed his trust when Walt withheld the true nature of his marital issues. I think that Chris felt that he was never a first priority in Walt's life; therefore, Chris dramatized his disconnection from his parents in going on this trip to the west and then to his final journey to Alaska.
ReplyDeleteGoing back to the question, no i don't feel that Chris really felt the need to go against his parents, but the series of decisions that Walt made influenced Chris to drastically distance himself away from his parents.
I think Chris would have agreed with this statement. His parents expected him to be like them, career driven. But Chris didn't want to be like everyone else. Chris wanted to go into the wild and be independent. So he made sure the letters they sent him weren't delivered back immediately so he would have time to get away. He wanted to be free.
ReplyDeleteThe majority of teenagers would agree with Krakauer's statement. An example would be when teenagers get their driver's license. It is a chance to be free of their parents and on their own.
Alexa Lua
I believe that Chris would agree with this statement. He did not want to be like his parents, he wanted to be different from them. Unfortunately, when they found out about Chris, it was too late.
ReplyDeleteTeenagers would have to agree with Krakauer's statement one hundred percent. Examples of this are when teens turn 16, they get their license or when they are 18, they can move out.
Kaitlin Dailey
Chris Mcandless would agree with Krakauer's statement. Chris an odd guy who takes many risks in his life eventually taking one risk too big to handle. MAny events that took plce in his life could be considered reckeless but thats how he wanted to live his life. Many people like his parents would think of his choice of living off the wild as being a "reckless" choice but it was his life and he lives it the way he wanted to.
ReplyDeleteI also think this staement is true. Many things that i do in my life my parents would not do because of the risk factor. It may be a risk of injury or something that they wjust would not find fun.
Taylor Bergthold said...
ReplyDeleteMcandless would agree with Krakauer's statement. Chris, an odd guy, who takes many risks in his life, eventually takes one risk too big to handle. Events that took place in his life could be viewed as reckless by his elders but thats how he wanted to live his life. Many people like his parents would think of his choice of living off the wild as being a "reckless" or stupid choice, but it was his life and he lived it the way he wanted to.
I also think this statement is true. Many things that i do in my life my parents would not do because of the risk factor. It may be a risk of injury or something that they would just not find fun.
I definitely believe Chris would have agreed with Krakauer's statement. He himself would sometimes talk about a young man or woman needed their individuality. While that may not have been his primary reason for going on his epic adventure, subconsciously there was a part of Chris that left his parents worrying on purpose. Throughout his life Chris never did really get along with his parents, and would always do things, though not this serious, just to piss them off.
ReplyDeleteMost teenagers these days defy their parents as well. We are all seemingly born with a natural gift at rebelling. While most others older than us think these things are irresponsible or inappropriate, they too rebelled against their parents when they were younger. I believe it is the only true way teenagers can learn some of the necessary skills needed for adulthood.
Ben Kaiser
I believe McCandless would agree with this statement due to Krakauer's descriptions of how rashly McCandless felt about his father and the expectations placed on him by his parents. I feel that in McCandless's situation he wanted to rebel in what he felt was a mature way. A way of showing his parents, elders, and those he met on his way, that he didn't need to rely on his parents money, society, anyone or anything in order to live the life he wanted. And where as most young adults or teens would simply sneak behind their parents’ backs, or push the limitations of their parents, McCandless was inspired to take complete control of his own life.
ReplyDeleteI consider this statement correct in regards to kids my age, as well as my friends, and even to an extent, myself. Though I, and most of my peers for that matter; have experienced the need to push our boundaries, to prove ourselves worthy of responsibility, and show our maturity (or what some kids think is proving maturity) in reckless ways, wouldn’t go to the extreme like McCandless. This statement still stands for those that don’t exaggerate the boundary, in that it is our nature to stray from our parents’ beliefs.
Haylee Hodgkins
I think McCandless would have to agree, because if he didn’t it would be a bit hypocritical of him. He had many people tell him that he should reconsider what he was doing, but he stubbornly went on with it. McCandless wanted freedom, and freedom for him was to be in the wild, which is something that seems irresponsible to some adults. Also, as a teenager I believe this is true. I’m drawn to do some risky things that a lot of adults might think of as too dangerous, however I think that they see it as dangerous because they have passed the age of being able to do those kind of things. My friends, people my age in general and me want freedom to do what we want. Although, adults don’t think we’re ready for that independence, and interpret it as reckless.
ReplyDeleteApril Wulbern
I believe McCandless would have agreed with Krakauer's statement. The seemingly nonexistent bond between his elders and himself seemed to encourage him to rebel against their ideals. During the time McCandless was venturing into the wild he had purposely left his parents clueless to his whereabouts because he knew they would not approve of his "reckless" of living life.
ReplyDeleteSociety perceives teenagers as being reckless by nature. I personally think it depends on the indivdual and their relationship with their parents. Their peer group also greatly influences the decisions that are made by the individual. In my life I do not find the statement true of me or my peer group.
The post that occured at 9:01 on August 16, 2010 was by Allison Turner
ReplyDeletesorry i accidentally posted without my name
For a good 3/4 of the novel, McCandless would have disagreed with Krakauer's statement, claiming that he was not normal for a boy his age, but that he was one of the few that understood the workings of the world and it's faults in modern lifestyle. But as he lives in Alaska, he begins to realize that civilization is not as bad an he had previously envisioned it. When he sees that happiness is only rel when shared, he realizes that maybe his rebellion and choice to leave society, at least in principle, were not so different from many young men and women around him. Obviously he took it to an extreme, but the longing to be separated from family and be independent is not rare at all.
ReplyDeleteI also find myself and my peers wanting to be independent and sometimes do rebellious things only for the sake of rebelling. It varies mightily from person to person, but it all has the same thought basis: "I want to be my own person, separate from my parents and completely independent." However, this phase or event is usually short-lived and we go back back to life as it was. McCandless was one of the few who totally changed as a person because of his struggle to be independent.
sorry i forgot to sign that post. The post on August 17, at 2:29 am is from Taylor Cummings, 2nd Block, Mrs. Somers
ReplyDeleteI believe that McCandless would have agreed with Krakauer in a way. Yes, people are drawn to more reckless things because it does give people a greater sense of freedom and power. But, at the same time, it is not everyone's wish to live life in the way that Chris did. I don't think he viewed it as being reckless. He loved nature and living life the way he wanted to instead of the routine history has created for each generation of beings to come.
ReplyDeletePeople are reckless in different ways. I do not believe this statement is true of me. But as for my age group I can see where this statement has some truth to it. Teenagers tend to rebel and do things looked down upon by adult figures and others all in an attempt to avoid authority and be an 'individual'.
- Anna Paraskevopoulos
I think that McCandless would not agree with Krakauer when Krakauer says it is not "unusual for a young man to be drawn to a pursuit considered reckless by his elders" because throughout the entire novel, McCandless never views his actions as reckless. Although I believe he was very reckless and not cautious at all, McCandless always thought he was looking for a free lifestyle, not a reckless one. If McCandless really thought he had been reckless, he might have written in his journal how much he regretted not coming as prepared as he could have. I believe that the statement definitely is true about me, my friends, and many people my age. For fun, sometimes I enjoy jumping off rocks into rivers or lakes, and I'm sure most adults would not even think about such an activity because they know how reckless it really is. I know I can be very reckless at times, and I also think many my age are similar in that aspect.
ReplyDelete-Brett Bacharach
I think McCandless wouldn't agree with Krakauer, it seems McCandless simply wants to live, not to push the boundaries with his parents.
ReplyDeleteI believe that people our age do tend to do these dangerous and sometimes unitelligent things, simply because we feel close enough to being adults, yet still are close enough to being children to have the need to pull these rediculous stunts. Chris' parents didn't know what he was doing, and thus his actions had nothing to do with them.
All in all, I think Chris was just trying to achive freedom as soon as he could, and to live life to it's fullest, not worrying about parental intervention.
-Alexus Munn
Although it's true that Chris, and most teens, are drawn to pursuits considered reckless by their elders, I think Chris would be offended by being put in such a box. He would argue that it's not a call to recklessness; instead, his calling seems reckless to some. But that would be a ridiculous point to argue. Teens in general I don't think are drawn to recklessness, they just don't foresee the potential dangers and consequences of it, so they are less cautious about reckless behavior.
ReplyDeleteI think McCandless would agree with Krakauer because part of the reason he began his journy was to get away from the regular routine of his everyday life. As we age we find ourselves really more heavily on the safty of our structured lives instead of living day by day without a set routine as the young McCandless was able to do. This is also seen among many of us teenagers today who find ourselves growing tired of our regular routines and begin to push our bounderies with often times reckless behavior. As teenagers many of us do night possess the abilty to think through our actions and see the potentialy dangerous outcome.
ReplyDelete-Meghan Munn
I believe that Chris would agree with the statement by Krakauer because every young adult or kid doesnt want to be told what to do and doesnt want to follow the rules of whats "right". The fear of the unknown doesnt scare everyone and i believed its what push McCandless to go on his adventure not just because it was reckless but to see what he could discover.
ReplyDeleteAs a teenager I also agree with this statement. When an elder tells you not to do something it makes you want to do it more, just because you can.
Megan Hentschke
I do believe that Chris McCandless would agree with Krakauer because many of the people who met and began to care for Chris attempted to persuade him from his Great Alaskan adventure. Out of all the friends Chris came to respect, no one was able to talk McCandless out of what he was doing. Chris was very adamant about going through with his journey.
ReplyDeleteEven today with all of the stories and precautions kids are taught growing up, they are very decisive when it comes to rebelling against authority; they are just as determined as Chris McCandless was.
By the end of Chris McCandless' journey I believe he would have agreed with Krakauer because during the start he was so arrogant and didn't have the proper tools to survive out in the wilderness. So many of the friends Chris made a long his journey tried to put some sense in his head but he wouldn't listen; he was very head strong and wanted more than anything to go off into the wild.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Krakauer because when someone older than me is telling me what to do or not to do something it makes me want to do it even more and let me learn it on my own.
-Madison Rockefeller
Based on the book I don’t think McCandless would agree with Krakauer. I believe he wouldn’t agree because McCandless liked to live natural and not have a lot of important possessions in his life. What makes me think this was when his parents finally had money, and they started making bigger purchases, he was embarrassed because he didn’t think you needed all of that money to be happy. He liked the fact that his parents worked hard and didn’t have a lot in the beginning and tried to please their children, but as time went on it got embarrassing for him. Yes as a teenager, I believe that elders think that we are reckless. I believe this because when you go out with your friends older people look at you and most of the time don’t smile, and when you get a job they constantly remind you that if you mess up you will be terminated. We seem to be constantly watched.
ReplyDeleteKendall Larson
English 11 Honors
Based on the events in this novel, I believe McCandless would agree with Krakauer's observation that it is not "unusual for a young man to be drawn to a pursuit considered reckless by his elders." McCandless was the typical free-spirited individual who began his journey across the country to get away from the realm of society. He didn’t want to be a part of societys’ rigid structure and wanted a carefree lifestyle. With all the rules and regualations imposed onto a member of society, a person’s exploration and adventurous spirit is limited. McCandless knew there was more to life than the traditional, daily rituals that many follow, so he set out on his self-discovering adventure.
ReplyDeleteKrakauer’s statement can also been seen amongst teenagers today. As a child gets older, more opportunities present themselves and he or she must make a decision. He or she can either decide to follow the right thing to do in a certain situation, or choose to take a risk. Since teenagers find themselves tired with their regular routines, many begin to push outside the boundaries with reckless behavior. This behavior could include drinking alcohol, trying drugs, and/or racing their friend on the freeway. The teenager does not think through his or her actions of the potentially dangerous outcome until the negative consequence occurs.
I think he would agree with this statement because he definatly wasn't the normal kind of human being. He was always doing things and amazing people whether it was a good kind of amazement or bad.
ReplyDeleteI also think that this statement is true about kids our age. Teenagers tend to get in trouble A LOT and I think it is mostly because the idea of being dangerous and doing something you arent supposed to be doing is what most people our age thrive on.
Alice Neff Block 2
I think McCandless would defiantly agree with Krakauer on this matter. The whole point of Chris's Journey was to experience life on his own and "live off the land". In doing this he essentially wanted to live life on the edge or experience danger. I don't think this statement really relates to me because i am usually a calm person. Also i don't see my self going into the Alaskan wilderness by myself and unprepared any time soon.
ReplyDeleteMatt McCormac BLK 1
Chris McCandles would have definitely agreed with Krakaur because almost everbody considred his decision to leave his old life behind as wreckless and ill thought out. He was a unique and free spirited individual and when he really wanted to do something nothing would prevent him from doing it. Although it is sometimes true that some teenagers do reckless things because of a lack of expirience or perspective, it is also a negative steriotype and not always true.
ReplyDeleteErik Lolland
I believe Chris would definitely believe Chris would disagree because he was a guy who thought he had everything under control and when somone told him other wise then he wouldn't listen.I think it was reckless but i also think it was necessary because it was his desire which motivated him. Jordan Huckaby
ReplyDeleteI believe chris would agree with this statement. He knew his parents disapproved of his lifestyle yet he pursued his goals all the same. He probably thought of his parents portests as over-portective or authoritative. It is for these exact reasons that people our age participate in reckless behavior. We find our elders as being too authoritative or as over-protective and we rebel. combined with theover confidence and naivety of youth(that is shared by chris) we cannot help but engage in reckless behavior-Lyle Speth
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that Chris would agree with Krakaur's statement because he has always been such an individualistic person. He has always done whatever he wanted, whether or not his parents approved of his decisions. I think this statement is true to all teenagers, because as human nature we always want to do the opposite of what we are told. When we are given restrictions, we are more susceptible to rebel.
ReplyDeleteAnna Toll
I am inclined to say that based this novel that Chris McCandles would not agree with Jon Krakauer. Throughout the novel, McCandles refers to his adventure as one of an escape from the everyday recklessness of the modern world. He also considers himself prepared and able for all of his ventures throughout America. When new problems would arise he would do the opposite of recklessness and prepare himself to deal with the obstacle. Even in preparation for what he declared to be his last and most demanding adventure, he went to a university's library and educated himself with the knowledge he considered necessary for his Alaskan adventure. My own opinion of Chris McCandles sharply differs. I presume McCandles to be a reckless and ill prepared vagabond that refused to heed the warnings of a large number of people that only had his best interest in mind. The last person that ever saw Chris McCandles , Jim Gallien, knew that he was not prepared for what he was about to encounter. This is evident when Gallien gives McCandles his lunch and boots to hopefully increase the reckless boys chances of survival.
ReplyDeleteI find myself in everyday situations, that my parents consider reckless, not even realizing that they are potentially harmful. I think this is because I have not experienced as much of life and its problems as they have. This also sometimes leads to "teenage rebellion" of some sort just to find that if I had listened in the first place I would have saved myself the trouble of recklessly facing the same problem that my parents faced. This same desire to rebel and not be told what to do is a common thread found in all of my friends as well as other people in my age bracket.
Robert Wood
Yes, I believe McCandless would agree with Krakauer's statement, though I believe Chris "Alexander Supertramp" McCandless saw himself as different from the average rebel. Teenagers our age and up to McCandless' age are experiencing a time of their life of self-discovery. Going against rules and the seemingly repetitive voice of adults and high power figures is a stage that everyone goes through. The idea of being rebellious seems to be so thrilling and adventurous; to make your own decisions and feel so powerful. It's something everyone feels. Even from reading this book, I admired McCandless and was a little bit influenced to live to an extreme degree and push myself to do something that would be life changing.
ReplyDeleteSean Lee
Yes, I believe McCandless would agree with Krakauer, because almost everyone he spoke of Alaska to tried to talk him out of his expedition. As a teenager I believe it is somewhat rue of myself, but clearly not in the same context as McCandless. Although there are a few adults that find rock-jumping to be a little too adventurous, some, such as my dad, encourage me to fully experience the outdoors
ReplyDeleteSorry that last one was Robert Bada, just forgot to put my name.
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