Taylor+Pestorius+RP+Post+5

My project is based on Jon Krakauer's book, //Into the Wild.// I wanted to learn all there was to learn about Chris McCandless, the subject of the nonfiction novel. First his story was published in a magazine, so critiques from the magazine article were included in the book. I wondered, are there critiques for the books too? The same ones, or perhaps, different ones? I began to search. What I found is that there are many assumptions made about McCandless's life, mostly because of the gaps in the story caused by Chris's death. It's hard to know what's true and not true. There is no way of knowing for sure. One of the bigger questions is why Chris left his family in the first place. There have been some speculations that Chris had schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, as people with these disorders are known to wander. Even though Chris very well COULD have had one of these disorders, I highly doubt it to be true. While Chris was on the road, he met so many people who thought he was remarkable. I think that at least one of the people would have made some sort of assumption. And I doubt Krakauer would emit that assumption if it was suggested. What's highly more likely is that Chris's home life triggered his desire to run away. Chris's family keeps a web page online for his loved ones and admirers, and they never suggested any sickness. His sister, Carine, thinks Chris ran away because of a difficult home life. The McCandless' were their father's "second family", and Chris's birth caused a lot of turmoil and eventually a divorce. He felt a lot of guilt and animosity towards his parents for this, especially because they didn't tell them himself. Chris might have also been inspired by his favorite authors, Jack London and Henry David Thoreau. Both were lovers of the natural environment and both went on independent nature trips themselves. A young, impressionable man such as Chris was likely inspired by his reading. There have even been recent deaths in the wild that are speculated to be inspired by Into the Wild. This has led to outrage about the book by many, but most admire the book and give it strong reviews. Sometimes the book is even related to //Catcher in the Rye//, the book that caused the murder of Jon Lennon. I disagree with this comparison as Catcher in the Rye had nothing to do with murder and Into the Wild discusses death, but never glorifies it. It's very clear that Chris made several mistakes along his trip.