Authors in Into the Wild
- Jack London
- Henry David Thoreau
- Leo Tolstoy
JACK LONDON
Famous Books-The Call of the Wild, White Fang, The Sea-Wolf, The Iron Heel, and Martin Eden
Quotes in "Into the Wild"- "Dark spruce forest frowned on either side the frozen waterway. The trees had been stripped by a recent wind of their white covering of frost, and they seemed to lean toward each other, black and ominous, in the fading light. A vast silence reigned over the land. The land itself was a desolation, lifeless, without movement, so lone and cold that the spirit of it was not even that of sadness. There was a hint in it of laughter, but of a laughter more terrible than any sadness—a laughter that was mirthless as the smile of the Sphinx, a laughter cold as the frost and partaking of the grimness of infallibility. It was the masterful and incommunicable wisdom of eternity laughing at the futility of life and the effort of life. It was the Wild, the savage, frozen-hearted Northland Wild."
Page 9, Chapter 2
Significance of Quote- This quote connects to McCandless and his Alaskan adventure. More specfically, this quote was ingrained into wood at the site of McCandless's death site. The quote parallels the experience that Chris had in Alaska. Alone, cold and in the vast emptiness of the wilderness
Personal Favorite Jack London quote- "Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well" This quote connects to me and my drive to do well even in tough situations. Finding the inspiration to push through the bad times is important to me in any situation.
I think Chris would give me credibility for selecting this quote, but he wouldn't completely confer with me. He would understand why a person would choose his quote but he himself wouldn't "get it"
HENRY DAVID THOREAU
Famous books- Walden, Civil Disobedience, The Maine Woods
Favorite Thoreau quote from Into the Wild- "No man ever followed his genius till it mislead him."
Significance of Quote- This quote connects to McCandless and his idea of being free in the wild. Some would say that Chris's choice of going to Alaska was crazy or that he was stupid. His confidence in his own ability to survive mislead him into thinking he could survive in the Alaskan wilderness. His own genius inclined himself to believe in himself more than he should have
Personal favorite Thoreau quote- "All good things are wild and free". This quote connects to my drive to be different than my peers and the enthusiasm I contain for things I love. I think Chris would agree with the quote and my selection of it because of his own personal drive for freedom and being in the wild
LEO TOLSTOY
Famous books- War and Peace, Anna Karenina
Favorite Tolstoy quote from Into the Wild- "I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence. I wanted excitement and danger and the chance of sacrifice myself for my love. I felt in myself a superabundance of energy which found no outlet in our quiet life"
Significance of quote- This quote was highlighted in one of the books found with Chris McCandless' remains. This relates to Chris and his eagerness to get away and move from his family. It also connects to his irritability with the lifestyle he lead before he ran away.
Personal favorite Tolstoy quote- "Everyone thinks of changing the World, but no one thinks of changing himself" I favor this quote because it speaks on the topic of thinking small and simple. I myself think in a simplistic way about life, and this quote relates to that philosophy. It talks about thinking on a smaller level, a personal level, before you tackle the problems in the world.
I think Chris would think that the quote is very legitimate. He would agree with my selection because of his ambitions to try and help everyone he meets to see the way he does.
Jack london
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| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_London |
Henry David Thoreau
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| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau |
Leo Tolstoy
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| http://www.biography.com/people/leo-tolstoy-9508518 |
