Amassing as much wealth as possible appears to be the main goal that many pursue. People work long hours and engage in illicit activities in an effort to achieve this goal. Transcendentalists try to set themselves apart. Instead of seeking earthly pleasures, they focus their eyes and energies on deeper truths. This is the main message that Jon Krakauer conveys in into the wild. In this moving yet tragic story, he shares the experiences of Chris McCandless, a young man who exchanged the comforts of life for a simpler yet rewarding life. McCandless is an embodiment of the modern day transcendentalism.
Austerity and minimalism are some of the defining features of transcendentalism. Henry David Thoreau captured this in his vision of a proper life. He encouraged simple lifestyles and shunned extravagance. Thoreau must have had McCandless in mind when he developed this vision. In into the wild, there are many instances where McCandless displays minimalism and a desire for a simple life. As he heads into the woods, Gallien offers to buy him gear. Instead of accepting this offer, McCandless replies “No, thanks anyway…I’ll be fine with what I’ve got” (Krakauer p. 6). McCandless was heading to a dangerous place where he would need supplies. His refusal to accept Gallien’s offer appears unwise. However, when one considers that he simply desired a simple and uncomplicated life, it becomes clear that he is a representation of modern day transcendentalism. Krakauer describes how poorly prepared for his journey McCandless was. He notes that “Alex’s cheap leather hiking boots were neither waterproof nor well insulated. His rifle was only .22 caliber, a bore too small to rely on…” (McCandless p. 6). Here, it also appears that McCandless is acting foolishly and fails to recognize the importance of material possessions. However, what is more evident is that McCandless simply wished for a simple life where he was not tied to the demands of materialism. Philanthropy is an integral component of the minimalist lifestyle of a transcendentalist. This can be seen in the life of McCandless. Krakauer shares that McCandless donated “the money in his college fund to OXFAM America” (Krakauer p. 16). It is clear that McCandless is not a typical college graduate. Instead of spending his money on such material pleasures as vehicles and expensive vacationing, he supported a worthy cause. His behavior is the essence of transcendentalism. McCandless minimalist and simple lifestyle goes beyond philanthropy. He also rejected excesses and indulgences. For example, he turned down his parents’ offer to buy him a new car. He insisted that “he already had a perfectly good car” (Krakauer p. 16). That McCandless is an embodiment of minimalism and transcendentalism is not in question.
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Apart from being minimalist, transcendentalists also tend to be nonconformist. This is according to Ralph Emerson Waldo who contended that “Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.” Waldo essentially suggested that transcendentalism calls for a rejection of tradition. McCandless fits Waldo’s description of a true man. Krakauer points out that while in college, McCandless turned down an invitation to join the Phi Beta Kappa. He felt that “titles and honors are irrelevant” (Krakauer p. 16). Another indication that McCandless is a nonconformist is the relief that he experienced when he graduated from college and set out for the woods in Alaska. Krakauer notes that McCandless “felt emancipated from the stifling world of his parents and peers, a world of abstraction and security and material excess” (Krakauer p. 18). McCandless is a nonconformist in that while others cherish the company of family and friends, McCandless found his family and peers to be stifling. Defiance and rejection of the rules of man is one of the defining features of nonconformity. These features characterized McCandless. There are numerous instances in into the wild where he either ignores or rejects rules and guidelines. For example, he ventured into the woods despite a poster which warned that “off-road driving is strictly forbidden” (Krakauer p. 20). Krakauer adds that McCandless driver’s license was expired and that he his car was uninsured yet he still drove to the woods. It is clear that McCandless does not care for rules that get in the way of his pursuits. He is a true nonconformist. While it is true that McCandless transcendentalist lifestyle costs him his life, his experiences offer interesting lessons. Instead of pursuing shallow and unfulfilling material possessions, people should dedicate their lives to the pursuit of truth and total freedom.
Work Cited
Krakauer, Jon. Into the Wild. Metropoliticancollege.com. Web.
