Into the Wild

     Into the Wild is a book that easily divides people who would otherwise be perfectly content to agree on most points.  My mother and I, for instance, agree on most everything.  We both love hunting, fishing, camping and hiking.  Where my mother agrees with Gallien that McCandless was one of the "crackpots from the lower forty-eight who [would] come north to live out ill-considered Jack London fantasies," I am more of the opinion that McCandles makes a major change in his life that leads him to adventure, challenge, and happiness.
     While McCandless does die as a result of his actions, the same can be said for each and every person.  Perhaps many die late in life, with family all around - but many die having never having realized many of the dreams we wish we would have.  The same cannot be said for McCandless.  He clearly saw something that he wanted - and he went after it.  In many ways, his testimony sticks up for itself.  He writes "make a radical change in your lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservation."  
     For McCandless, you have to look and see how the last years of his life were so much more enjoyable than the first.  He lived life, learned new things, and learned about himself.  He did this in a way that he could not have done had he gotten a job, married, and lived a 'normal' life.  Living this life would have left him in regret.  Where others tend to knock McCandless for his decisions, I tend to support him, understand him, and sometimes even wish I had as much courage as he.