Reading journal - Essay Example

Reading journal Part words Knapsack Anorectic Balks Confidante Part 2-Summary of chapters Chapter 13 sets the stage for the interview of Carine McCandless who is the younger sister to Chris. Carine is greatly affected by the death of his brother right from the information that McCandless body was discovered in R. Sushana. They even travel home so as to carry Chris’ ashes in Carine’s knapsack. Billie, Chris’ mother is in great shock after the death of his son and even weeps uncontrollably (Krakauer 88-90).

She even stops eating and loses a lot of weight. On the contrary, McCandless father put on weight. This explains the different responses to loss and stress. In chapter 15 on The Stikine Ice Cap, the author concludes that McCandless death was a result of an accident more so borrowing from his journals. As a youth, we learn that McCandless was fond of mountain climbing and this explains why at 23 he sought to climb the Devils Thumb on the Stikine Ice Cap in Alaska where he dies (Krakauer 92-100).

In chapter 16, Chris McCandless visits Liard River Hot Springs in Yukon Territory. He spends two days at the river. Later he becomes friends with Gaylord Stuckey who later gives him a ride after being stuck for a while. Stuckey purchases a rice bag for McCandless then gives him a ride to University of Alaska (Krakauer 108-116). Stuckey advices McCandless that he is too young to move to the snow but he ignores the advice. In the 17th chapter on The Stampede Trail, the story of the Teklanika River is revisited and why McCandless opted not to cross the river.

The map that explains the downstream where McCandless wanted to cross is revealed (Krakauer 118-127). It is arguable that McCandless would have attempted using a different route rather than staying in the bus and starving to death. In the last chapter, McCandless is seen to return to the bus, continues hunting and gathering but the amount of energy he uses is more than what he consumes. Part 3-Analysis From these chapters, one questions the concept of happiness in an individual’s life. Is the same related to the struggles of life and attaining the set goals?

How far can one link the importance of family to an individual’s happiness? McCandless does not acknowledge his family members and sees no contribution of his family to his life. Part 4-Response In a way or another, I am of the opinion that McCandless operated on some form of ignorance. I believe that McCandless died of starvation as a result of arrogance. If he applied some level of wisdom, he would have saved his life and even maintained relations with his family. It is as a result of his pride that his parents and siblings suffered a great deal after his death.

His messages do not reach his parents. It is worse how McCandless does not bid goodbye to his loved ones let alone acknowledge them as his loved ones. Actually one wonders whether to pity him or be angry at him. Work CitedKrakauer, Jon. Into the Wild. Devon: Pan Macmillan, 2011. Print.