An in-depth on my love and hate for Chris and his shanangins

I'm dedicating my final post to Chris.... while reading the book Chris intrigued me and frustrated me at the same time. And even at the end, my mind was in conflict between the perception that Chris was a cocky, crazy, nut-job, or if he was a free thinker who was prepared to take on anything.

I love Chris: Chris was a great character in the book Into The Wild. He was an interesting character who lived off his beliefs, and tried to create a new lifestyle for himself, which is undoubtedly brave. I liked it that he provoked thought whenever we talked about him. I love his positive attitude and how he loves what he's doing. He is living "to the fullest extent in which real meaning is found," (Krakauer 37), and I love it that he's doing what makes him happy. I like it how he is really smart and thinks amazingly deep thoughts. And the thing that I love that he is incredibly intriguing. He makes me believe that his ideas are possible.

I hate Chris: Chris was a young, cocky college kid who thought he could take on society. He was way too big for his britches and thought that he could survive in the Alaskan wilderness with what he could carry, and his smarts. He was a typical "idealistic, energetic young guy(s) who overestimated themselves (himself), underestimated the country, and ended up in trouble," (Krakauer 71). I didn't like Chris, not only because he was cocky, but because he died because of it.

In the end, my final feelings for Chris are still muddled between love and hate. Chris will always be an epic character in my mind, because of how interesting he was, but never will he become a favorite of mine, because I'm still caught.