In chapter one we come to find that Chris is extremely unprepared to face the harsh Alaskan weather. The materials he had in his possesion were lacking to say the least. His materials did not serve any protecton for the conditions present. After disecting the information that i have accumulated during the first three chapters I beleive Chris did think he had an adequate amount of supplies. Toward the end of chapter one, Gallien had to persuade Chris to take his lunch that Gallien's wife had prepared him that day. Since Gallien said he had to persuade him, this shows me that Chris beleived he had an adequate amount of supplies to survive without complication for a certain period of time. Also, I believe that Chris walked into the woods with intention of not walking out. Although his note showed otherwise, I am beginnning to think that he may have placed it there to show that he did not expect to die. What cathes me is that he says he is too weak to hike out but he is collecting berries in the near viscinity. If he is to weak, why would he be moving around?
Furthermore, I like that Krakauer starts the story with the end. I personally like to know what happens in a book and gradually learn new information. This raises many flags for me because now I think of everything that is happening and I want to continue to read and find out about the protagonist. I beleive that Krakauer's purpose in telling this tale in this fashion is to draw the reader in and have them continue reading out of pure suspence. He may also have done this to show key points in the story such as his S.O.S note.
Lastly, my reaction to McCandless's note makes me very suspensfull. I begin to accumulate many questions which dont have answers unless I read on. I biggest flag raised was that he says he is nearby and will return later on that evening. If it takes that long to get around he must be distanced from the actual location. After thinking about this, I am starting to wonder if his S.O.S note is used to draw someone in. I think this because he underlines and is expressing "...no joke" with extra effort; S.O.S notes are already serious. Why go the extra extent to show he is not joking? This raises a huge flag and shows me that maybe Chris McCandless is crazy...
I agree that he was ill preprared. I completely agree with that he didn't have the intentions of walking out. I thought the exact same thing. IF this wasn't true then he would've packed the ammount he did or he would have some other way of getting what he needed. He plan was completely ill prepared and thought out. That shows his carelessness with himself living or dying. I agree with him going out to get berries when he's suppose to be "near death." Also, I thought the biggest red flag was that this was after him changing his name, so therefore why would he sign it using Chris. I thought maybe this was expressing Chris had died completely and Alex was reborn. Also, Chris never wanted help or to accept it. So why would he ask for some? Espeacially if he wasn't expecting to live.
ReplyDeleteYou're right when it comes to his supplies and him not having enough to survive off of. You doo have a valid point with him expecting to maybe die in the woods but I think when it came time for him to die, he did not want to therefore he put that sign out with the S.O.S. on it. I agree with you about the author and how I would like to learn more about the book before the end. Maybe he underlined the No Joke just to enphasize he was actually in trouble because if kids come along and see it, they may think it is a joke so maybe that is why he did that.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the same page with you on the topic of McCandless thinking he had enough supplies. Though, I believe that he was to weak to hike out of the woods, most likely he was close to the bus, that wouldn't require long strenuous hours of hiking through the wilderness. I too agree with how Krakuauer started the book, to serve as an attention grabber. I don't think he was nessacarily crazy I think that when he wrote that note he was desperate enough to get at of the woods.
ReplyDeleteI agree with just about everything you have said. I too believe that McCandless is crazy, but I did not think that because the evidence you presented, although that is a very good inference and I must agree with you that this does raise a major red flag. I also like the way that Krakauer started the story, I like to read books the same you you do. I do not agree with that you thought he planned to not come out of the woods alive, I do believe that he originally planned to come out at some point, just not in a body bag.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the note also raised a lot of questions because I began to question his sanity, and if he was sane before he got to the wild. I also think that he wrote his real name just in case he died and no one knew who he was.
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