...Christopher McCandless, the author of Jon Krakauer's book "Into the Wild." has been widely regarded as a transcendentalist. Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the importance of individualism, nature, and self-reliance. This essay will argue that Chris McCandless fits into being a transcendentalist. Firstly, Chris McCandless embodies the transcendentalist value of individualism. Throughout his journey, he seeks to find his true self and rejects the expectations and constraints of society. He leaves his privileged life behind to live a simple and self-sufficient life in the wilderness. He does not conform to societal norms, nor does he seek approval from others. This pursuit of individualism is a key tenet of transcendentalism,...
Words: 491 - Pages: 2
...Would you drop everything just to go live in a run down bus in the midst of an unknown area? In John Krakauer’s book, Into the Wild, a young man, by the name of Chris McCandless, embarks on a quest of independence. He believes life’s answers lie in the frozen Alaskan wilderness. Transcendentalism is the philosophy that one can discover a higher truth in nature and self perfection is achieved by transcending beyond the human experience. Therefore, Chor McCandless is a transcendentalist due to his desire to escape the society of conformity and his passion for self discovery. First, Transcendentalists believe in escaping society and conformity. In the essay Self-Reliance, Emerson states, “Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood...
Words: 519 - Pages: 3
...Ralph Waldo Emerson was a Unitarian Minister that left his home to find an entirely new meaning to life, which is exactly what Chris McCandless did as well. Emerson’s belief was that you should do what you thought was right, and not follow anyone else’s opinion but your own. In the biography Into the Wild, Chris demonstrates qualities that convey transcendentalism. He left his whole life behind to go into the wilderness and find a better meaning of life that didn’t involve any materialistic items. He wanted to travel on his own without the help of other people, which demonstrates that he relied on only himself to get through the dangers of the wild. Ralph Waldo Emerson would agree that Chris McCandless was a transcendentalist, because he followed most of what Emerson believed to individualize...
Words: 798 - Pages: 4
...let down your hair! (you coming blondie?) Now it’s time to leave your tower to explore the world of body paragraphs! This is the most important part as it makes up the bulk of your essays. Call it a journey to the floating lights! Tip: For all body paragraphs of the three types of essays, you have to cite your sources/evidence. You can do that by putting quotation marks or citing the author or source’s name somewhere in the body paragraph. Body paragraphs for Rhetorical Analysis: Body paragraph 1 and 2 should include a topic sentence followed by a piece of evidence, in this case, a cited quote. After inserting the piece of evidence, you should explain what rhetorical strategy or technique the author uses in that specific example....
Words: 995 - Pages: 4
...man”, must live by a transcendental way of life. Transcendentalism, a political and social movement, takes root in nonconformity. It alo relies heavily on the reflection of the Divine Soul that can be found in all objects, and on the importance of nature. The journey into nature, taken by Chris McCandless, is a direct representation of the views of Emerson, as reflected in “Nature”, and “Self-Reliance”, put into action. Emerson wrote both of these essays in order to show the positive impact transcendentalism can have on one’s live, and why more people should live by it, like McCandless. In his essay entitled “Nature”, Emerson wrote, “The rays that come from those heavenly worlds, will separate between him and vulgar things.” By separating oneself from the material world, all the detrimental aspects of life will be eliminated. In this essay, he also references childhood and the importance of childhood curiosity even as an adult. People should think of their childhood, and about...
Words: 835 - Pages: 4
...man named Chris McCandless sets out on a journey in the wilderness, leaving society behind. Like a transcendentalist named Henry David Thoreau, he began “essential living”. Chris McCandless is considered a transcendentalist because he lives a simple life, and choses to abandon society and live out in the wilderness. A simple life is what transcendentalists believe in. In the book Walden, Thoreau mentions, “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!” This hints at the idea of a simple life where everything is organized and reduced....
Words: 504 - Pages: 3
