Transcendentalism and Into the Wild - Essay Example

Transcendentalism and Into the Wild This essay discusses how Into the Wild, a 1996 non-fiction text by Jon Krakauer is in line with the ideals of 19th century transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is considered a philosophical, cultural and literary movement began in England in 19th century. The theory of transcendentalism was supported by writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau (Rose 208). The movement is based on the assumption that the world of facts and common sense categories are exchanged for the realms of ideas and imagination. The theory was aimed at making life better by lifting people above the conflict that happens on our souls (Stevenson 304). Transcendentalists believed that if these chains are lifted the soul is exalted and given freedom and union with the good ideals in the society. Into the Wild is a story of a young man from Emory, Chris McCandless, who is found dead in the Alaskan wilderness in 1992 at twenty four. McCandless is from a wealthy background and is presented as a gifted athlete and a scholar. He has a strict moral compass that makes him seek his own way and life (Dalsted 27). After McCandless graduated in high school, he learns of a secret that his father had another family. McCandless develops anger over the betrayal; which drives him out of trust and attachment to his parents and people around him. Into the Wild is very elaborate on the way it represents the ideals of transcendentalism. The writer makes it clear from the beginning that the story of Chris McCandless elicits a lot of controversy and different reactions from people. Like the ideals of transcendentalism, which came at a time when the society was awash with materialism, the ideals elicited a lot of controversy (Rose 208). McCandless, like the ideals of transcendentalism, elicited both negative reactions and positive reactions in equal measures. For example, those people who met McCandless found something likeable in him. The first symbolic determination of McCandless to trash materialism happens when he gives all his life long savings to charity. This was a step to prove that men can live without materials; they can live as long as they seek their inner fulfillment. Transcendentalism was so strong an idea that in a few minutes of its explanation, people could like and understand it and actually commit to it (Dalsted 28). As Into the Wilderness, McCandless influenced people in a way that they had something positive to say about him even if they chanced to meet him for a few hours. In Into the Wild, all people who meet McCandless doubt him because of his looks. They quickly assume that he is foolish, uneducated, and ignorant of his own life (Anderson 27). The same way, transcendentalism ideals came in a way that it was confused with dogmatism. In fact, unless one is in it, it was very hard to know whether it is a religion, cultural, literary of philosophical movement (Rose 209). Like, McCandless, the movement was misunderstood and misinterpreted because the society was already highly influenced by the world of science. Materialism, which transcendentalism came to overhaul, was based on the ideals of empirical life and beliefs (Stevenson 305). However, transcendentalism ideals do not hold the fact that the limited world of senses can give the reality proper. Into the Wild, presents this contrast by the way it presents McCandless. McCandless is educated, intelligent and a morally committed youth whose look does not correspond with a first class graduate he is. The text suggests that transcendentalism is such a value, but the value cannot be seen unless one seeks it. McCandless was able to change people’s minds and assumption about himself rapidly, and they got to want to know who he is and why he is like so. Some people he met sympathized with him and offered help, which in most cases he turned down against their expectations. However, they are left with good memories about his humility and simplicity. What makes McCandless change people’s mind quickly is his intelligence, education and his passion to live his lifestyle and affirm his moral stands (Dalsted 28). He is hardworking, valuable and willing to take any task. Transcendentalism is an ideal that proved to change people’s minds, transform them and influence them in a religious, philosophical and literary way. The movement attracted people from all disciplines, and they fitted into it perfectly. However, the text does not present McCandless as a flawless person (Anderson 26). He had his own weaknesses, which were largely his undoing. The assumption that he is naïve and arrogant is justified because of the way he neglected himself and went around unkempt. Krakauer characterizes McCandless as an oversimplified symbol of transcendentalist ideals. McCandless does not entertain criticism. It was because of this that he refuses Jim Gallien’s help and the advice of many other people concerning the dangers of his exploration to Alaska. The same way, transcendental ideals came as stubborn ideals, which in most cases failed because they did not consider the way society was highly socialized into materialism. Many scholars have argued that transcendentalism is inflexible (Rose 209) and this reflects the stubbornness of McCandless which is a reflection of his undoing; his selfishness. Like transcendentalism, which argued that people cannot derive truth from any empirical evidence whatsoever and that true knowledge inheres from people’s inner selves, can be seen as the movement’s selfishness which made it not to be a daring of many in the society (Stevenson 305). In transcendental terms, causation, time and space limit people from living their full lives (Rose 210). These are common sense categories and they make some outcomes unavoidable. However, transcendentalism goes against these ends and posits that some outcomes are avoidable. For example, in the common sense world, space is the one that separates people from their loved ones and places they would rather be; time comes with good things and with it beings come to an end. The categories of imagination, which are presented by transcendental ideals frees human beings from all these limits. For example, in Into the Wild, McCandless moved from place to place and refused to be bound by his education status, his family background (Dalsted 29). He went seeking his moral ideals when he realized he could not found it in his family. He chose o seek it elsewhere no matter the cost. Although he ended up losing his life, his goals were attained and he did not compromise his moral stand. In conclusion, Krakauer in Into the Wild has captured the ideals of transcendentalism in characterization of McCandless. What the author has presented is a contrast between material world and transcendental world; or what can be referred to as common sense categories and categories of imagination. The way McCandless could influence people, transcendentalism influenced and attracted people likewise. However, McCandless does not have people create his admirable personality at the first sight. As a result of his looks, people misinterpret his personality, knowledge and status. However, it is after interacting with him that people get to know what McCandless has behind the physical being. The text has presented transcendentalism as an ideal that does not present what it has at the face value. Understanding the world and the way transcendentalists interpret the world proper is the concern of the text. McCandless in Into the Wild has characteristics that are his own undoing. This is critical of the ideals of imagination categories that can be overcome through common sense categories of materialistic ideals that transcendentalism ignores completely. Therefore, Into the Wild is both a critical reflection of transcendental ideals and the ideals of materialism. However, the text presents the movement towards transcendentalism and the prize one has to pay for ignoring common sense categories of knowledge. Works Cited Anderson, Michael. “Into the Wild Book Review.” Taproot Journal 17.2 (2007): 26–27. Dalsted, Kyle. “Into the Wild Book Review.” Teen Ink 18.7 (2007): 27–29. Rose, Anne. Transcendentalism as a Social Movement, 1830–1850, New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1981. Print. Stevenson, Martin K. “Empirical Analysis of the American Transcendental movement.” New York, NY: Penguin, 2012. Print. Read More