Into the wild

        Chris McCandless in the film ditches his money and possessions and breaks from society to live in the vast wilderness of Alaska, totally free of materialism. It's a lifestyle many people envy, and would love to do, but also would never attempt; it is extreme, unrealistic, and I believe, foolish. Chris believed money was "shameful, corrupting, and inherently evil." He hated and was tried of the way money ran the world, he thought that careers were a 20th century invention and that title and wealth does not amount to happiness.  I think he is over his head with his beliefs, while money does not bring happiness, to go completely without money and materialistic things, one becomes too busy trying to supplying them self with basic necessities just to simply survive to even think about finding true happiness. It should be balanced, materialism should be a small part of one's life, but it shall not become his life. We are raised in a society of materialistic needs, and to be completely stripped of possession and isolated from society, we become weak, both mentally and physically. McCandles also believed one does not need human interaction and affection to be happy, it is not until his death did he realize he was wrong, happiness is only true when it's shared. While it may be new and exciting at first to be alone for a change in a society of constant chaos and company, humans are made to interact, it is how it's been since the beginning of time, and it will be that way till the end of time. Us humans are not meant to be alone. Some people he was taking risks and living life to the fullest, but I think he was ridiculous and inexperienced. His beliefs of completely independence from money and possessions contradicts his need fro them. He donated and burned his saving just so he could hitchhike and do labor along the way to feed himself and survive. Of course he meets all kinds of people and friends on his journey, and they provide him with those needs, but those come from money and materialism. Even though he was rid of his own, he could not ditch materialism completely, that is, until he was really into the wild in Alaska.He was selfish and insensitive, he hurt just about everybody he had met on the way by just leaving them. He completely contradicts himself by saying“you’re wrong if you think that the joy of life comes principally from human relationships” then when he really feels the loneliness and is the verge of death he says “happiness is only real when shared”  His extreme actions led up to his death, he could have avoided it and lived if he had more experience and was more prepared to be living alone in the wild. However, I do think McCandless was a bright guy, he realized material objects and a poisoned society wasn't for him. He did what his heart told him to do to find his strength, but he underestimated the dangers and conditions of the wild, and without much the materialistic things, he failed to really live as one with nature. (Or in a way, he succeeds in his death, becoming part of nature.)