This is a very interesting question to consider, as
Krakauer in his riveting account of Chris McCandless's life reports the way in which
otehrs dismiss him as an example of arrogance, naivety and youthfulness whilst also
indicating the way that there was something special about his character and looking at
the impact he had upon so many. One of my favourite quotes regarding the character of
McCandless is in Chapter Seventeen, when Krakauer answers some of the critics who are
quick to dismiss Chris McCandless as just an arrogant young
man:
He had a
need to test himself in ways, as he was fond of saying, "that mattered." He possessed
grand--some would say grandiose--spiritual ambitions. According to the moral absolutism
that characterises McCandless's beliefs, a challenge in which a successful outcome is
assured isn't a challenge at
all.
This points towards the
unyielding nature in which Chris McCandless lived his life. He remained true to his
beliefs and absolutism, even when that resulted in his death. There is something heroic
about that, and Krakauer is careful to present McCandless as someone whose "life hummed
with purpose." In addition, he includes the comments of Roman, who says about Chris
McCandless:
Sure, he screwed up... but I admire what he was
trying to do. Living completely off the land like that, month after month, is incredibly
difficult. I've never done it. And I'd bet you that very few, if any, of the people who
call McCandless incompetent have ever done it either, not for more than a week or two.
Living in the interior bush for an extended period, subsisting on nothing except what
you hunt and gather--most people have no idea how hard that actually is. And McCandless
nearly pulled it
off.
Therefore there is
enough evidence in this excellent book to point towards McCandless being a hero and not
being the unwise, arrogant young man that so many seem ready to dismiss him as
being.
No comments:
Post a Comment