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Bryant Valverde

Francie Greenslade

English 100 - 051

19 November 2012

The Pursuit of Ultimate Freedom

The quest for “ultimate freedom,” (Krakauer 168) largely represents the highest level of

freedom from others and others who rule over a person. For Chris McCandless this would include his

parents and laws. The book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer tells a true story about a young man named

Chris McCandless who’s quest for, “ultimate freedom,” persuades him to travel to the wilderness of

Alaska and live off nothing but the land. McCandless grew up in a well off family in Virginia. Although like

every family, he did have some relationship issues with his father, which in turn slightly added to his

decision to travel to Alaska. The book jumps back and forth between events. It gives the reader the

sense that McCandless knew the outcome of his quest or as much as what the cost of completing his

quest would be. Mostly because Krakauer’s main methodology for the book is personal journal entries

that were later found in the wilderness of Alaska near the site where McCandless died and more extent

research.

It is evident that Chris McCandless’s desire to find “ultimate freedom,” (Krakauer 168), blinded

him of the value and importance of his life. He was a graduate, “from Emory University in Atlanta,”

(Krakauer 20) with high grades and gave his college fund of $25,000 away to charity. Thus he wasn’t a

crazy young man. For someone to give up so much for what he or she truly believes in is very difficult are

rare amongst young adults.

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McCandless is a young idealist whose personality shows characteristics of liberalism.

McCandless’s follows the concept of positive liberty that was best developed by the British neo-

Hegelians of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, such as Thomas Hill Green. Thomas Hill

Green claims that a person can never be unfree as long that person is subject to an impulse or craving

that cannot be controlled (Bosanquet). McCandless’s liberalism reflects his desire to travel to the

wilderness of Alaska because, he was, “not doing what he really [wanted] to do, one who is, say, an

alcoholic, is being led by a craving to look for satisfaction where it cannot, ultimately, be found (Gaus

and Courtland 1.3). Throughout many liberal political theories, the idea of a free person is someone

whose actions are their own and takes responsibly for those actions.

Since the beginning of time laws and rules have been in place, even if they weren’t forced upon

one by a higher power. For instance in the beginning of time, there may have not been for examples any

criminal laws, but natural laws and rules such as the laws of physics were present. Point being humans

have been exposed to laws and rules since the beginning of time. They are what keeps order and

explains, “All of the physical [phenomenon’s]” (Heisenberg 4) in the universe. The most connected to

McCandless’s quest is the laws that one must follow to protect nature. With no one else to adhere to

McCandless can enjoy “ultimate freedom.” McCandless was a very liberal and free person. Freedom is

exactly what McCandless was seeking, “the condition of being free, independence,” (Oxford 259). It is

evident that McCandless’s has some deep problems with intimacy. It makes sense that during his route

to Alaska, any intimacy with other could potentially distract him of his current quest. Although he wasn’t

only trying to evade the, “impending threat of human intimacy… the claustrophobic confines of his

family,” (Krakauer 55) and the materialistic society he was brought up in. All throughout the part of this

life that is portrayed in the text, he views authority particularly oppressive. In McCandless’s mind the

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Alaskan wilderness isn’t a way for him to escape or easily run away from his problems. Whereas in the

wilderness of Alaska McCandless would find, “ultimate freedom,” (Krakauer 168).

With the death of Chris McCandless, also comes the completion of his quest for, “Ultimate

freedom,” (Krakauer 168). He did complete his adventure of getting to the wilderness of Alaska. His fight

for survival shows his determination to fight for what he believed in. For the most part his quality of

idealism is what brought him through his adventure. The fact that McCandless even agreed with himself

to go on his adventure self explains that, “ultimate freedom,” (Krakauer 168) isn’t something you can

just wake up one day and find. No, to truly find, it one must go completely out of their comfort zone and

be willing to do whatever it takes.

Works Cited

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Bosanquet, Bernard. Philosophical Theory of the State in Philosophical Theory of the State and Related Essays. Indianapolis: St. Augustine Press, 2001. Print.

Gaus, Gerald and Shane D. Courtland. "Liberalism." 28 November 1996. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Essay. 14 November 2012.

Heisenberg, Werner. Fundamentals of Physics. New York: Penguin Books, 1989. Print.

Krakauer, Jon. Into The Wild. New York: Villard, 1996. Print.

Oxford. Oxford American Dictonary. New York: Oxford University Press, 1980. Print.

The Associated Press. "'Into the Wild' pilgrimages increase in Alaska ." 30 June 2008. http://www.msnbc.msn.com. Article. 14 November 2012.