“The secret to happiness is freedom… And the secret to freedom is courage,”says Thucydides. Now, imagine that you decide to leave your life as you know it. Your home, your family, and even your name. Too radical, right?”Into the Wild” shows us the life of Christopher “Alexander Supertramp” McCandless, a young man who decided to move away from society due to the set of practices and customs that entailed the lifestyle in which he grew up in. This young man made the choice to set free of his past without taking in consideration the effects that this action could have had on his life and those close to him. By the end of the film, it is revealed that Christopher’s misdirection led him to his death, which leaves you wondering if his actions were heroic or foolish.

The film, directed by Sean Penn and released in 2007, is based on the book “Into the Wild” written by Jon Krakauer. Both the film and the book, tell the story of Christopher McCandless, a 22-year old man that, as soon as he graduates from college, donates all his savings, burns his ID, credit and social security cards, packs a backpack, and embarks on a trip through the United States whose goal is to reach Alaska. The idea of Christopher, who during the trip changes his name to Alexander Supertramp, is to renounce to all kinds of possessions, including his family, and turn his back on our consumerist society.

As mentioned before, Christopher’s goal was to be free, and get rid of everything he detested about society. And in this, he went after his goal, which left him facing what I like to call, Alexander’s super trap. Tragically, his unwillingness to stay connected to the world ultimately cost him his life at a young age. After all, it was quite foolish to go live unprepared and alone in the wilderness. Even after he was warned countless times by people that he met on his way to Alaska. I believe that the end would have been different if he had a map or guide of the area, some way of communicating in case of an emergency and, on top of that, simply did not travel to places that he did not know about. Regarding Christopher’s ending, journalist Kevin Valdez says: “there is little proof of whether he died of starvation or poisoning, but obviously, the main cause of his death was being ill-prepared for the life he chose, despite the fact that he disagreed with the way his parents raised him.”

On the other hand, if you think about it for a brief moment, Christopher McCandless was a young man who was brave enough to go into the wilderness with just a few supplies to pursue his personal goal. Even though he made poor choices, he should be admired simply for the fact that he had the courage to change the life that he was unhappy with, knowing the future would be difficult. The importance of Christopher and his views is that dreamers like me can feel empowered after knowing his story. Throughout my life, I have daydreamed of living the way he did, although maybe not so drastic, and with more supplies. Traveling, having no one question your decisions, living by your own consequences, and just being free.

There is no doubt that Christopher was quite foolish in many ways and affected emotionally those who loved him. However, who would we be as society if we condemn those who attempt chasing their dreams?That is why I think his actions were heroic and serve as an example to encourage those who struggle in some way to accomplish their goals. Every dreamer out there should watch the film because beyond telling us the emotional story of Christopher McCandless, the film makes us an invitation to travel, stir the spirit, and reflect on our life.

Bibliography:

Thucydides Quotes. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/thucydides_384481

Valdez, K. (2018, May 18). Christopher McCandless: Selfish or Just Misunderstood? Retrieved December 2, 2018, from https://smokesignalnews.net/8187/opinion/christopher-mccandless-selfish-or-just-misunderstood/

Penn, S. (Director). (2007). Into the Wild [Video file]. United States: Paramount Vintage.