Background
`Into the Wild’ is a USA biographical film created in 2007 and directed by Sean Penn. The film is an adaptation of the nonfiction novel, ` Into the Wild’ written by Jon Krakauer and published in 1996, (Penn 2007). The film begins by introducing the main character, Christopher McCandless whose beliefs, curiosity, depression, and family issues drives him into the wilderness where he meets his death. The character came from a wealthy family in the Washington D.C USA. He had privileges that only few of his age mates could claim.
While at the Emory University, he managed to become a good athlete and emerged the top student in his course. After completing his education, Mccandless returned home but he had crafted a powerful principle. He believed in being in touch with nature, leading a life where all that he owned could be fit on his back and the desire to find his true self. He moved away from home, abandoned his parents, gave away his savings amounting to $24,000 to the charitable organization known as Oxfam and set to the Alaskan wilderness in search of his true identity, (Penn 2007).
This was in response to Watt, his father’s carelessness. Watt’s arrogance and persistent push for McClandless’ academic excellence together with a shift in idea made him be totally disappointed with life prompting him to be abandon his possessions and head to the Alaskan wilderness. His strong belief in solitary persons like John Muir and David Thoreau contributed to his decision to flee into the wilderness and reside in a bus. According to him, he did not fancy leading a materialistic life characterized by civilizations and modernity. Finally, in his quest to unite with nature and find a sense of to his life, he goes to the Alaskan bush where he starves to death prior to the possibility of returning to civilization, (Penn 2007).
McCandess’ character traits
Talented and hardworking
He was a bright student while at the university. This evidenced by emerging the best student in his course. He was a determined student and concentrated on his studies thus yielding to his brilliant performance in the university. Consequently, he worked very hard to attain his mission of becoming a good athlete. By practicing hard and having determination, McClandless was able to achieve his mission.
Willingness to assume risk
By moving from his parents’ comfortable home and going into the wilderness, McClandless demonstrates he is ready to abandon all life comforts and move into a dangerous place. He ventured into the wilderness without carrying proper equipments necessary for his mission, (Penn 2007). It is in the wilderness that he meets his death prior to the possibility of returning to civilization. Therefore, his reasoning led him into self destruction thus ruining his bright future.
Principled
McClandless’ decision to move into the wilderness portrayed him as a principled person. He believed on John Muir and David Thoreau doctrines of discovering one’s true self by abandoning all the life comforts and moving into a solitary place like the wilderness. Therefore, he steps into the wilderness to discover his trueness despite all the challenges he knew he was going to face. Consequently, his action of openly denouncing his father’s hypocritical nature proves that he stands and ready to defend what he thinks is right. He scorns his dad’s request to lead a perfect life yet his personal life is full of controversies and dirtiness. This proved when his dad abandons his earliest wife, Marcia in order to marry McCandless’ mother, Billie only to return later and start battering her.
Stupid/ ignorance
McClandless’ decision to go into the wilderness without carrying the necessary equipments portrayed him as a stupid person. Even though, he knew all the risks associated with his mission, he never bothered in carrying the equipments hence making him vulnerable to harsh environmental conditions in the wilderness. He later succumbs to the harsh environmental conditions thus causing his death.
b) Description of McClandless behavior according to Alfred Adler’s theoretical perspective covered in the course
According to Adler’s theories concerning personality, more so his belief that the basic human driving force is to shift from the original position of inadequacy or inferiority to superiority or self actualization, (Adler 2006). From childhood, man works towards overcoming the inferiority and exercises his power over other human beings hence the driving force towards man’s behavior, thoughts and emotions. This psychological explanation is suitable in explaining McClandless characters and behaviors in the film `In the Wild’. First, his belief that one’s need to find his or her trueness makes him move from a position of inadequacy or inferiority to superiority.
His need to find or attain self actualization drives him to abandon his home, parents and the comforts of life to go into the wilderness where he expected to find self actualization. He did this in order to become superior to other human beings. By being principled and following John Muir and David Thoreau principles, McClandless thought he was going to achieve his dream of becoming superior and being past modernization and superiority, (Adler 2006). Therefore, the character wanted to be ahead of his parents, relatives, colleagues and the entire human kind by proving the doctrines of John Muir and David Thoreau.
Secondly, McClandless’ character trait of willing to assume risks by venturing into the wilderness without carrying proper equipments proves his need to come superior. His need to attain self actualization drives him to go into the hostile Alaskan wilderness so as to attain self actualization, (Johansen, 2010). According to Adler’s personality theory, McClandless’ trait ought to make him more superior than other human beings. This could occur in case he had achieved his mission of finding his trueness in the Alaskan wilderness.
Thirdly, McClandless’ character of working hard in his studies and athletes confirms to Adler’s theory of superiority. He worked hard in his studies while at the university hence; he succeeds by emerging the top in his course. Consequently, his persistent effort in training hard in athletes later paid off when he becomes a good athlete. Both of this shows McClandless’ determination of becoming superior to his classmates hence the driving force to his emotions and thoughts of success, (Adler 2006).
c) Summary and opinion
According my opinion on the relationship of the character, McClandless in the film, `In the Wild’ and Alfred Alders’ theory on self actualization, the character is a perfect example or application of the theory. His mission of attaining self actualization motivated him to go into the harsh wilderness so as to achieve his trueness. By going into the Alaskan wilderness, he was optimistic of realizing his dream of self actualization in a solitary place, (Carducci 2009). In case he could have succeeded in his mission, he could have become superior to his colleagues. Sadly, he met his death in this mission thus dying before achieving his dream of self actualization or becoming superior to his colleagues.
References
Adler, A. (2006). The general system of individual psychology. H. T. Stein, (Ed.). San Francisco:
The Classical Alderian Translation Project.
Carducci, B J. (2009).The Psychology of Personality. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Johansen, J. (2010). Religion and Spirituality in Psychotherapy. New York: Springer Publishing
Company.LLC.
Penn, S. (Director). (2007).Into the Wild –Trailer. Web July 25, 2011.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LAuzT_x8Ek>
