"[Chris] changed his name, gave the entire balance of a twenty-four-thousand-dollar savings account to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet. And then he invented a new life for himself" (page 1 of the Author's Note). Chris began his new life as "Alex Supertramp, master of his own destiny" (page 23).
What could be the motivations behind someone taking such radical actions within their life? What do you believe that Emerson and Thoreau would say about what Chris does? How is Chris different from Emerson and Thoreau?
Respond in minimally 3-5 sentences
Due: Friday, February 4th by 11:59pm
The motivations behind such a thing would be to leave your material belongs behind and start a life closer to nature and closer to God. I believe that emereson and Thoreau would say that Chris is a firece guy how takes transcendentalism to the extreme but he is also living like to the fullest. Chris is different because he is actually putting his life in danger, Thoreau for example was not, he took trips into town for food and lived by a pond not in Alska wilderness Mark D
ReplyDeleteA person might take these actions because they are in a bad way with bad people. He also might have done this so that he can get closer to God. In being closer to nature, he is closer to God. I think that Emerson and Therou would say that Chris did a good thing and should live life to the fullest. They would also say that he was a little radical in his ways, but giving to charity was a a good gesture by Chris. Chris is different from Emerson and Thoreau because he is not goint to a place where supplies are nearby. He is putting it all on the line. While Emerson didn't practice what he said, and Thoreau did not go deep into the wilderness. Thoreau went to a place on a lake adn near town with supplies. SO Chris took it all to a new level that Emerson never thought of.
ReplyDeleteI should not even be in the same sentence with the greats of transendentalism. My motivation is doing that was that i wanted to be free of stress.I wanted to pack very lightly so that i would be very mobile. I wanted the risk of living on the edge, with the fact that i have to work to get my food, and work to survive.I think Thoreau and Emerson would be proud of the fact that i made the decision to live in the wild. I think the difference between us is that they didn't they didn't live in such a radical enviroment. They lived in a very calm place. I lived more on the edge and where i stayed was more risky.
ReplyDeleteThe motivations behind all of these actions could be that he wanted to just start fresh and make everything new. He wanted a simple and new life so he started going toward that goal. He maybe wanted to be closer to his religion, for he wanted to get as close as possible with nature. Chris is different because he took these theories way too far. He put himself in danger and risked everything. They lived in seclusion for a while, but during that time period they went to go get food and other supplies and also visited their friends every now and then. I think Thoreau and Emerson would be proud of his courageousness but wouldn't approve of going to such great lengths.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Emmerson and Thoreau would have liked what Chris was doing, but would not have liked how he was going about doing it. They definatly would have liked that he was going away to be in nature alone. What they would not have liked was how ill-prepared he was. Yes, Thoreau lived alone in nature, but he made regular trips into town for food. He also lived near a pond, and not in the harsh wilderness of Alaska. I believe that Chris was feed up with having a normal life, and wanted to do something drastic, like moving to the Alaskan Wilderness.
ReplyDeleteI think for someone to have changed their life so dramaically they must have been under alot of stress. I also think he thrived on the adventure that awaited him in the Alaskan wood. I think Emerson and Thoreau would have liked the fact that he took such an interest in the ideas they have set forth, but I feel like they would have thought Chris had taken it too far with packing so lighty. Chris is different from Emerson and Thoreau is that those two men developed this period of time and Chris just lived the ideas of it. Even though Thoreau lived out in wilderness for two years he still didn't go to the extremes like Chris had.
ReplyDeleteI think that the reasoning behind Chris' actions was a craving for freedom and a simple, new life that wasn't apart of society. I also think that he was under a lot of pressure that came from living under the standards of society. I believe that Thoreau and Emerson would have admired Chris for his courage and will to live out the idea transcendentalism. I think this because Chris took the idea very seriously and that was obvious because he took such few materials to live.
ReplyDeleteSomething dramatic may have occured in his life, for Chris to decide to do such a drastic thing, such as change his life completely. He could have felt held down by the world around him. He could have had a mental disorder that made him find this coarse of action normal. He could have suffered a trauma in his life which would cause him to change. He was trying to obtain something or run away from something, that much is certain. Thoreau and Emerson would probably be delighted at the thought of someone embracing nature and freedom in such a way. Neither, Thoreau or Emerson, would ever take their lives to the extreme Chris had done. They had never risked their lives to such a level for a simple ideal. Many people decide to live more "naturally" but few do it in such a reckless, yet confident, manner. Chris either wasn't logical or had strong reason to do what he did. At least in my opinion
ReplyDelete-Sean H.
Chris was obviously not happy with the life he had been living. he was looking for something new and more fulfilling. He knew in his heart all the money and possessions in the world wouldn't be able to give even a third of the happiness that a total and complete connection with nature and God would give. Chris is the picturesque transcendentalist, and i think that Thoreau and Emerson would be overjoyed to see someone actually follow through to the last little detail, the way of living they both envisioned. However, unlike either of them, Chris actually DID what they both talked so much about.
ReplyDeleteA reason for these action could be because CHris was in a dark place with himself. It also could be because Chris wanted to start a new life closer to God and mother nature. I believe Emmerson and Thourea would say that Chris is a bit extreme in his ways buthe had good intentions. Chris is different because unlike Emmerson and Thoreau Chris was entirely seperated from other people and took life into his own hands
ReplyDeleteAfter thinking about the story, and going through each of these questions, my view has slightly changed. I am alittle confused on what I really think Chris' intentions were when going into the wild. He gave away everything he owned and saved nothing. He told no one where he was going, almost as if he never wanted to be found. Before I was set on the thinking that maybe he just wanted to live day by day and not worry about the future. In his own way though, he was worrying about the future by getting rid of everything he had. If he had intentions of coming out of the woods, then wouldn't he have saved some of the things he owned. $25,000 is a lot of money, he could've donated half and saved the other half for when he came out of the woods, unless he had no intention of coming out. I think Emerson and Thoreau would admire Chris' ambition, but I think they would frown upon him for foolishly going into the wild unprepared and without telling anyone. Chris is different from Emerson, because Chris actually lived out transcendentalism, whereas Emerson just wrote his theories about it. Chris is different from Thoreau because Thoreau went somewhere, where he intended to go into town once in a while to interact with people and to get supplies, he also told people where he was going. Chris did the exact opposite, Chris did not tell anyone where he was going, he did not intend on going into town to get supplies or interact with people, and he did not bring money to buy food or supplies.
ReplyDeleteOne main reason for someone to take such radical steps could just be to get closer to God. It would also make sense for Chris to do this so he could become closer to not only God but nature also. I believe that Emerson and Thoreau would call Chis crazy but not me. I think that he is just VERY determined to what he wants. Chris differs from Emerson and Thoreau because he not only more radical but also took his life into his own hands and separated himself from everyone else.
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