The pieces of literature we have read are all different, yet all share striking similarities. The pieces exposed the familiar feeling of a need to explore the world, expand your experiences, and find your true inner self. I think this is a very powerful subject, and one that many people can easily relate to.
These selections also shed light on the significance which dreams have. Stevens' poem described, in my opinion, exactly what the title suggested. I believe the mountain referenced by the title was a place of sanctuary for Stevens. The mountain could be an actual mountain or a metaphor for a place of solid ground. A place where your feet could be planted on solid ground, yet you could let your mind take you wherever you wanted. Stevens' mountain is a place that everybody can relate to, but he discovered a substitute. I think poetry, or a certain poem in particular, served as an alternate sanctuary for Stevens. This doesn't go to say the mountain was eliminated as a personal refuge, but rather that there can be many "mountains" you can discover.
Stevens' notion of a mountain related to Chris McCandless' story in more than one way. This notion can relate directly because McCandless literally abandoned his typical city life for a trip into the wilderness, directly to "the mountain." Chris escaped to this place for the same reasons I believe Stevens did; to escape the reality the were both growing tired of. Although McCandless' story ended quite tragically, he reached his ultimate goal. He survived off the wild and discovered the true meaning of living. You aren't really living until you actually have to survive. Only then can you really appreciate life to the fullest. I think everybody really benefit from experiences like this, although, probably not in such a drastic manor as McCandless did.
Many people misinterpreted McCandless' journey as a desperate strive to be recognized. Many thought him ill-prepared and inexperienced, and none were too happy to hear of his death. I, on the other hand, think McCandless took his voyage into the wild to escape the antics of these people which Chris was exposed to every day. I can't blame him. As a matter of fact, I really admire his determination. Anybody can repeatedly say they're tired of their daily routines, but it really takes some drive and ambition to actually take a break from the tedious burden of contemporary life. Two-hundred years ago nobody would have thought twice about McCandless' journey.
An escape into the wild can prove to be a life changing experience for any person who cared to try. I think you can learn a lot about yourself when exposed to the elements and every dynamic of Earth and its environment. You learn to see the world as it naturally is. New shapes, scents, and feelings come to new light and for one moment you can stop and almost put your life and meaning into perspective. I think that is what the characters in these pieces were after. Furthermore, I don't think any person has any superior perspective which gives them the right to title these journeys as idiotic.
I appreciate the fact that Krakaeur and his comrades truly respected and valued McCandless' journey. I believe Stevens and McCandless would agree upon many things. I think it takes a person who has experienced life and sees it for what its worth to truly understand the perspective Stevens and McCandless viewed their lives from. Both men resorted to nature and the wilderness to provide the relief from life they were searching for, and I believe that is a great place to find it. It is a place where you can be alone, yet also be among thousands of other living things. The source of everything can be traced back to the origins of the wild. Humans have simply come to dwell amongst it. I think McCandless was just tracing himself back to the roots in hopes of discovering what his life truly meant. His death doesn't hinder the story in my opinion and I think he most likely found what he was looking for. I think McCandless died how he wanted to. Maybe when our bones are ground into the dirt of the Earth we will finally realize what he accomplished...
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