"S.O.S. I need your help. I am injured, near death, and too weak to hike
out of here. I am all alone, this is NO JOKE. In the name of God,
please remain to save me. I am out collecting berries close by and shall
return this evening. Thank you, Chris McCandless. August?" Pg. 12
After using so many aliases throughout his journey, Chris now uses his real name in desperation. Chris's SOS letter suggests that his Alaskan Odyssey was not going to be his last adventure, and that he in fact wanted to live.
Chris has had many near death experiences before, but
what makes this situation different? Did Chris finally find some sort of
meaning to his life in Alaska? Was it Chris's plan all along to leave or did he change his mind during his time spent in Alaska (about four months)?
Chris was always mentally preparing himself for death; however when the reality of the situation became true, he was not ready to die and realized how much life had to offer. Throughout the novel, it seemed like Chris was on some kind of "suicide attempt" but he really was not. He was just trying to find his place in the world and understand who he is.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Morgan. Although Chris had many near death experiences before, this situation was different because he knew that he would not get out of it without help, and unfortunately none was available. He realized he didn't want to die this way. I think it was Chris's plan all along to face death in Alaska if it came down to it, but in the back of his mind he thought he would prevail.
DeleteI completely agree. I don't think Chris wanted to die. Although, I'm sure he knew it was a possibility that he could die, I believe that he thought he could beat the odds.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with both of you! I believe that he knew that death was a possibility when setting out for his trip to Alaska.
DeleteI believe that McCandless went into the Alaskan Wilderness fully expecting that he most likely will die. Alaska was what he had been building up to- the climax of his life- and I believe that he realized how his life wouldn't get any more exciting than when he was in the wild. Though he got cold feet when he actually was on his death bed, I think that he knew he would meet his end there all along.
ReplyDeleteI think that it was Chris's plan to get out of Alaska all along. He dropped a few hints that he was going to reconnect with the people he met along his journey, so I do not think that he was planning to die in Alaska.
ReplyDeleteI think Chris had a strange mindset going in to Alaska. I believe he thought he was prepared to die for his adventure, but that when it came down to him about to die he must have realized it wasn’t worth following through on his plan if it meant his death. I think he believed he would make it out alive, without making any action (at least from what we’ve seen so far) to get himself out. I don’t think Chris really accepted the idea of his death in Alaska until it was too late for him to save himself.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Chris thought out his Alaskan adventure completely and just acted on impulse, and once he realized the danger he had put himself in he wanted to dave himself but it was too late. I think this near death experience was particularly different because for McCandless because there was the real possibility he might not be getting rescued. I think through his Alaskan journey Chris was able to find some meaning in his life, and created the separation from society which allowed him to do so.
ReplyDeleteBernie I agree with you. He did seem like he was trying to get out of Alaska in a way.
ReplyDeleteDo you guys think that in the four months he was in Alaska he found the meaning he was looking for in his life?
I think that at the beginning of his journey he was accepting of the fact that he might die in Alaska. However as he met new people and traveled to various places I think his mind set changed. When Chris starts using his real name before he was faced with his death experience I think it was then that he had found part of himself. Chris, being as stubborn as he was, still wanted to complete his initial goal and go to Alaska, and there I think he discovered his full identity and was not willing to die because he finally found what he was searching for.
ReplyDeleteChris thrived off these near-death experiences; these were the only times he actually felt alive. I don't believe that his intent was to die at all but he knew very well that it was one of the many possible outcomes of this journey/experience. This near-death situation was imminent and real. Chris knew what he got himself into and understood that his only outcome resulted in death. Chris realized that he was completely out of food and on the verge of starvation and that's the moment when he comes to his senses on the wilderness being a cruel place. Chris does not enjoy the feeling of defeat and begs for help in his journal.I imagine that Chris found his purpose not in Alaska, but on his journey there. I would assume that he realized that his desire for Alaska was only temporary and that he eventually would want to go back home.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Justin... Chris seemed to have some sort of thing with near-death experiences. They often occurred throughout his adventure and got increasingly more dangerous as the book progressed, but never dangerous enough to pose a serious threat to his physical health. In Alaska, he simply got defeated by the wilderness and realized that the trip was not a near-death experience; but a death-experience.
DeleteI do not think it was Chris' intention to die in Alaska, but he realized beforehand that it was a very real possibility. He seemed to know he was going in under-prepared because he heeded the warnings from the man who gave him the ride to the Alaskan trail that he stayed near. He also hinted he might not make it through the Alaskan trip in the final postcards he sent out to Jan Burress and Franz. I do not believe he found meaning in his trip to Alaska, but by writing his full name, if he had made it out, he would have returned home or settled down somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteI think it Chris used his real name in the note because that is the name that is in the database of the government and his social security number. If he used Alex Supertramp, no one would have ever heard of that person. This situation in Alaska is different because I think Chris knows the conditions are going to get much worse and possibly be fatal to his health.
ReplyDeleteI think Chris finally realized that he was going to die because he messed up worse than ever before. He would need to use his official name to be able to be identified by authorities so that's a real possibility why he used his official name.
ReplyDeleteDo you ever think there was a time while Chris was in Alaska that he regretted this and wished that he never set out to do this? Or maybe just not so dramatically?
ReplyDeleteI think Chris knew there was a chance he would die on his Odyssey and had told people that, but he also planned to return in the fall to help Wayne at the grain elevator. I believe this note is not regretting his trip or demonstrating some new meaning to life, but more simply understanding the seriousness of his position and being forced to request help. Throughout Chris's journey he refuses goods and support from other people, and I think this note simply tells the significance of Chris's condition, which eventually led to death, when he finally decides he needs other's help in order to survive.
ReplyDeleteI think Chris did not want to die, although he knew he would. The fact that he put his real name on the S.O.S showed that he was worried he would not get out of this one with his life. I think him putting his real name on the letter gave it more meaning, and showed his fear
ReplyDeleteTo answer Nicole's question I do not think he regretted his journey at all. I think he loved how dramatic it was and how he didn't know what was going to happen to him in the end. I believe Chris thrived on the attention he received from everybody he met along the way.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think all these people he met wanted to be so close to him?
What do you think made this near death experience different than the others?
ReplyDeleteChris used his last name out of desperation. He didn't know what else to do and knew he was gonna die. He went back to the only thing he really could control and that was his identity
ReplyDeleteChris used his real name out of desperation. I think Chris knew he was going to die and despite his relationship with his family he wanted them to know what had happened to him.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that he planned to die. He wanted to be remembered, and live to see how his story would inspire and affect others. However, I agree that being so close to death changed his perspective on life, and caused him to reevaluate his decision to embark on such a daring adventure into Alaska.
ReplyDeleteI think the whole point of Chris's Alaskan odyssey was to experience the beauty and adventure of life. His goal was to live life to the fullest each day. With that being said I don't think it was Chris's intention to go to Alaska to die.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Claire on Chris’s intentions for his Alaskan journey. I believe he used his true identity in this note because he knew there was a high chance that he would not make it out alive and wanted to make sure people knew exactly who he was when he was discovered. I do not believe in any way though that McCandless had any plan of dying in Alaska but I do think he was aware of the risk he was taking by pursuing his trip.
ReplyDeleteThis can relate to the guy that attempted to jump off the golden gate bridge. The guy was mentally prepared to die that day but when it came to actually jumping his mind set totally changed and suddenly he didn't want to die anymore. Chris went into Alaska wanting to get away forever but then he realized that his life was worth it.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe Chris found any new profound meaning of life in Alaska, I think he just realized how close to death he was and how foolish he had been. He never wanted a heroic death, he only wanted a meaningful life.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe Chris found any new profound meaning of life in Alaska, I think he just realized how close to death he was and how foolish he had been. He never wanted a heroic death, he only wanted a meaningful life.
ReplyDeleteWhen Chris wrote the S.O.S., he was actually dying. The reality of death sunk into Chris, causing him to change his mind. I don't believe Chris found life's meaning in Alaska, rather he decided he didn't like dying of starvation. The slow, painful death caused him to reach out for help.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Chris's luck had run out in Alaska. As he began to starve, hopes of survival quickly diminished and a realization of death came upon him. He might or might not have found meaning in Alaska, but he did find out he did not want to die.
DeleteI belive that Chris knew he was going to die in Alaska. His meaning wasnt to die at that earley age. I think he thought he would be able to live for longer. But since he didnt even tell his sister, which he seemed to be close to I think he knew he were going to die there and he probably thought it would be to hard to tell her that(she might try to stop him) and say goodbye. But then also I feel like maybe a couple of times on his way there he might had felt that he didnt really have the same pasion for Alaska, even tho he continued because he didnt want to give up.
ReplyDeleteI think that Chris knew the dangers of the wilderness before he entered, but he clearly had no regard for his safety once he crossed the river. I agree that he became desperate once he started experiencing the slow, agonizing pain of death by starvation. I also believe that Chris did learn a lot about himself and his life after experiencing the Alaskan wilderness. This thought is primarily evidenced by the fact that he is finally asking for help and signing with his real name. Perhaps he was finally ready to participate normally in society.
ReplyDeleteChris did not have a plan as to whether or not he was going to leave the Alaskan interior. All Chris knew was that he was going to work toward the extreme limit in order to find his being. Perhaps during his four month Alaskan odyssey Chris did find himself and that is why he calls for assistance. Before he was lost, now he had found himself too late.
ReplyDeleteChris McCandless want to get away from society and find what he's missing in the Alaskan wilderness. He probably wanted to leave the wilderness but he was too injured to travel back to town. He was also unprepared for ascendents or emergencies.
ReplyDeleteI think he used his real name because he has found what he was looking for in Alaska. Since he found the answer, he is now calling out for help because he finally realized all the dangers of nature and the potential chances that could lead to his death.
ReplyDeleteI believe Chris knew the danger of the Alaskan wilderness he was entering but was willing to take a risk and wanted to have raw experience. I think he did find himself figured out what makes him happy and weather it was that wilderness or a different life style in society he strives for we will never know. But I believe in his finally moments he wished he had done something differently and maybe return to society.
ReplyDeleteIt is the basic nature of man to fight for survival. If Chris was as happy with his life as others say he was there is no way he walks into Alaska without hoping to return. The whole journey would be pointless to Chris if he was never able to share his adventure with anyone else. Chris enjoys writing post cards to the friends he met along the way and Alaska was another postcard he was hoping to write.
ReplyDelete