After reading the first chapter of the book, I really think that McCandless actually thought he could survive out there with the little materials and items he brought. It blows my mind that he would even leave period, considering he was not prepared. Part of me feels like he didn't want to end up alive, simply because he was hardly around anyone and never really kept in touch except for a select few. The other half of me is like maybe he did just want to live off the land. It says in the book that he walked and canoed a lot of places, so it makes me second guess the whole situation. I can't quite seem to figure out why he would take so little with him, if he expected to stay alive on his journey for so long? I still can't figure out what possesed him to leave everything behind. It also really annoys me that Jon Kraucker would begin the book based on the ending of his life. I think it ruins the story, and confuses me as well. I want to know why he went out in the woods unprepared and why he didn't want anyone to know who he really was. Maybe it was written this way to save the best part for the last.
My reaction to the S.O.S note was really confused. I wanted to know why he suddenly wanted to be rescued, but why he left to pick berries? If you were in some kind of trouble, wouldn't you stay where you were and wait for help to come? That just didn't make sense to me at all. He's a really strange person in my opinion.
I agree with that point about the SOS note. Apprently he's in grave danger and near death, yet he's out collecting berries? How does that even make sense?
ReplyDeleteI think that the author started the book the way he did in order to rope people in. granted, it does give away the ending, but it makes people want to read it to find out the why aspect of it all.
I definitely agree with the fact of why he would leave his spot, when he wrote the note. It doesn't make sense. It almost makes me wonder if he wrote the note and wanted to be rescued but in a way didn't want to be rescued.
ReplyDeleteI would have to disagree, I believe he honestly thought he could surviv e on the little supplies he brought; His stubborn attitude leads me to belive so. Also I think starting with an end shows us how he seen it and captivates the readers more or so which also makes us listen to the details he throws in more or less.
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot of the same ideas for the most part. The fact of him possibly not wanting to come out alive is still a reasonable hypothesis. I think this really makes you think about his character.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I was dumbfounded when I found out all the materials he was taking with him.
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