The Similarities Between Chris Mccandndless’ And Ralph Waldo Emmerson’S Philosophies

Chris McCandndles/Alex and the Emmerson’s Self-Reliance are similar because one they both see life almost the same. Alex followed a transcendentalist philosophy. Alex got rid of his money, his social obligation, even his identity and took it among himself to remodel his life “Into the Wild” as if it was in search for himself. Alex was more of a peaceful, simple as possible person. He wanted to live off of himself and Mother Nature instead of how he was “supposed to”. Alex agreed with people like Henry David Thoreau, who agreed/believed that we need to simplify our lives as much as possible and we as humans can only be happy then. In Self Reliance philosopher Ralph Waldo Emmerson argues that political society has an adverse effect on one's personal growth. Self sufficiency he writes, gives one the freedom to discover one's true self. “Nothing can bring you peace, but yourself” (Ralph Waldo Emmerson, Self Reliance).

Ralph is saying that no one can bring you peace but yourself. Only you can chase your dreams. “It is easy, when you are young, to believe that what you desire is no less than what you deserve, to assume that if you want something badly enough, it is your God-given right to have it. When I decided to go to Alaska that April, like Chris McCandless, I was a raw youth who mistook passion for insight and acted according to an obscure, gap-ridden logic. I thought climbing the Devils Thumb would fix all that was wrong with my life. In the end, of course, it changed almost nothing. But I came to appreciate that mountains make poor receptacles for dreams. And I lived to tell the tale” (Into the Wild, 155).

Many people belived that Chris was stupid, arggonat, self-fish, native and more but Krakures knew chris was young and had so many question about life and mispections. Now to connect this back to the Self-Reliance quotes nothing can bring you happiness but yourself. Imagine Chris begin what his parents wanted him to be or what society wanted him to be which is attend high school get good grades (which he did), then attend college then, start his career and family. Chris would have felt trapped and probably would have went crazy, out place, and also unhappy. Only you can chase your dreams.