This quote shows how McCandless refuses help but will accept certain kinds. McCandless won't accept help unless he absolutely needs it.
Does McCandless have a corrupt view of receiving money an items from other people that he meets throughout his journey. Is he actually being selfish by relying on others through different periods of time or is accepting these things okay?
Claire Greason
Madeline Holloway
Keaton Lash
Nicole Santana
Claire Greason
Madeline Holloway
Keaton Lash
Nicole Santana
I think he is being selfish in some aspects because in certain situations he had the supplies he needed and then got rid of them for the journey in spite of the materialist world, but in other situations he worked for the money to receive the items.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you are saying because if he hadn't given up his car and went asked for help to get it out he would be able to drive and go where he needed to go. But instead he chose to continue on and give up and rely on others.
DeleteI agree with you Annie that Chris is being selfish but do you think if Chris was not selfish and listen to the people around him would his journey change for the better? or would it have the same outcome?
DeleteI think McCandless had strong views and opinions on certain things and he knew when he was willing to accept help and when he wasn't. To me McCandless doesn't act selfish but stubborn. McCandless can act on a whim looking selfish at some points, but overall McCandless is a hard worker earning almost everything he gets.
ReplyDeleteI agree that when accepting help is concerned, Chris is stubborn and overconfident, not selfish. Chris believes he can conquer anything, and he wants to do it all on his own, with no help whatsoever. In other terms, I believe Chris is selfish because he abandons many people who love him to go on his journey, never even contacting his family. This makes it seem as if he doesn't care about them at all, only himself. He also throws away the education his parents worked so hard to give him, and he lets many of his mental gifts go to waste.
DeleteI agree with you that Chris is definitely stubborn, but do you think that he had some acts of selfishness that weren't impulsive? For example, when McCandless left for Alaska without notifying his family and making a lot of strong relationships on the way?
DeleteMcCandless does not like his home life and I think is trying to escape the life he grew up in because of what his father had done when he was little. But I also think he is he trying to start over and build a life the way imagine it with a new family/life style.
DeleteI agree with you Matt on how McCandless is being stubborn because who would burn all their money if they were not trying to make a point. His stubbornness is what made his trip so special. If we took away the scenes where McCandless was being stubborn then the novel would not be the same.
DeleteI don't think that Chris has a corrupt view on receiving money, I think he has a fixed view. He believes that he can accept things that are necessary for his journey but anything extra is unacceptable. I think he is unknowingly selfish, he relies on the good nature of other people, with nothing in return, but he thinks it's just part of his journey. On the other hand, he works hard to earn money to get certain things.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Chris definitely relies on other people without expecting anything in return. Why do you think this is, with his education and moral code?
DeleteDo you think that he works hard to get the things he wants because he wants to prove to himself that he can get what he wants and he just chooses not to because he simply can?
DeleteI agree with what you are saying, Chris constantly relied on the generosity of other people, but never gave anything in return for what they did for him. But also when he realized he needed money and certain things, instead of accepting it from people he worked hard for himself.
DeleteChristina do you think Chris was focused on the present when he burned all of his money? Because he might of been able to survive if he kept that money for his journey. I think Chris was trying to make his journey special by thinking in the present and not looking for his best intrest in the future.
DeleteI feel as if Chris' problem with accepting help lies more within the way he was raised and how he seems to carry too much pride in himself to feel like he can accept help. Its as if he isn't willing to accept his status or current state in life, being on his own and as unprepared as he is. I see him changing though and starting to accept it more and maybe this has to do with the kind of people he is around now opposed to before he started this journey, almost like a culture shock and he is adjusting to the new way things are for him now.
ReplyDeleteNow that we know more about Chris's childhood, what part of it do you think was responsible for his attitude? I think it's true Chris is adjusting; however, he seems to go through periods of this acceptance (showing this by getting a job, things like that). Why do you think this is?
DeleteDo you think Chris becomes more reliant on those he meets and more accepting of help as his journey goes on? Is his reliance on others selfishness or just using his resources as apart of his journey?
DeleteNick if Chris made it through his journey do you think he would of done anything different? In what ways? Explain.
DeleteI agree with Matt that McCandless was more stubborn than selfish. He wanted to live on his own and had a desire to stray away from the materialistic world which is why he only accepted necessary items and he proved that when he needed money that he acquired steady jobs to make an income. Some outsiders may consider his acts selfish but he acted in a way that suited his journey.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Alexa because if he truly wanted something he would find a way to get it, like getting a job and buying it as he proves that to us in the book. But he comes off selfish to others because they don't know his story and what he is capable of doing with his life.
DeleteI agree that Chris was stubborn in many ways, however, if he wanted to live on his own why do you think he made such close relationships with many people? Why did he keep on returning to the town where westerburg lived and to be with those people?
DeleteChris' view on receiving aid and especially money is closely relate to his view on society. I believe he finds these thing materialistic and unnecessary. He believes that items and materials are only necessary if they are to obtain a purpose such as his Alaskan Odyssey.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but Chris seems to go through periods of closer contact with society, doing normal things like obtaining a job. Why do you think this is? Also, if his only goal was to his Alaska trip, why do you think he traveled around the continent so much beforehand?
DeleteIf he believed items were only necessary if for his Alaskan odyssey, how can you explain Chris bringing so little and being so underprepared when he went into the wild?
DeleteMichael so do you think Chris was more focused on having a special journey than surviving? Because if he was trying to survive he would kept his money and used it wisely through out his journey.
DeleteI do believe McCandless acted in a bit of a selfish manner on the journey. Like others have said, he only accepted certain things for help that were absolutely necessary for him, but after receiving, he didn't seem to show much gratitude or give anything back. He never wanted to develop a close relationship, never wanted to stay too long with anyone, just accepted the necessary help and was off. I believe the people McCandless met on the trip wanted to become close with him, but he merely used them for as long was necessary for him, and then was off again.
ReplyDeleteWhen he used these people or his own well being, was it because they offered it and he was willing to accept their generosity or was it because he truly did need their help and wanted someone to talk to about his life and journey he is on?
DeleteYou say that Chris didn't want a close relationship, so why did he keep in contact with people like Jan Burres? What do you think he used these people for, besides money and supplies?
DeleteDo you think he has a habit of abandoning those he cares about? And as soon as he feels a close relationship developing decides to run away from the situation, or is solely using them for help?
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the initial statement that McCandless won't take any help unless he absolutely needs it. In my opinion this is not true, because McCandless was not in dire need of some of the assistance he actually accepted. For example, the many times Chris was given a ride somewhere he didn't necessarily need one, and he most certainly could have just stuck to walking. That being the case, I don't think that McCandless was being selfish in relying on others for a little bit of help. I believe that Chris accepts the help that he feels he has earned or can be earned. I can see how some might view McCandless' reliance on others as selfish, but I completely disagree with that notion. A selfish individual would go out on this journey with the intent of depending on the kindness of others to provide him with his necessities every step of the way, however Chris, set out with the intent of using what he already had or could earn. The majority of the time he refused help and only accepted when the person insisted. I believe that accepting these things is okay because even though Chris is somewhat impractical and stubborn, he is most certainly intelligent enough to realize that sometimes you do need others to help you out so you can move forward in life, and in my opinion that does not mean he is selfish, it just means he isn't completely lacking in common sense.
ReplyDeleteFrom Audrey D:
ReplyDeleteI don't believe Chris to be selfish in the fact of accepting help when he needs it. He wasn't selfish to leave his family either in my opinion. It was what he needed to do and if he couldn't do what he needed to on his own, then he would accept help. But if there was a way where he could manage on his own he intended to do it that way, which was usually the harder way, rather than accepting the help and the easier way out of a situation.
Chris seems willing to accept help occasionally, but can only take so much aid in his journey that he set out to be alone on. His nature, to me, is one of doing everything on his own and with that mindset, he can only tolerate some help from others. As in his note to Ronald Franz, he wrote to try to use as little money as possible in life and in your trek, will find peace, so I think that's what he's going for
ReplyDeleteMccandless was faithful to being a transcendentalist and enjoyed the thrill it gave him. Flying does not make the trip as adventurous.
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