There was a discussion on a Facebook travel group where someone asked whether Christopher McCandles from Into the Wild was a hero or a naive fool. It got me thinking.
Having watched the movie over five times in last eight years or so, here is what I think.
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To me his story represents the constant dichotomy we all live in, to be a part of society or to be on our own. Each one of us has been frustrated with people around us, rules, systems at some point that we just want them to leave us alone. But we don’t do it. Because living on our own is damn difficult. It requires a ton of knowledge, acute awareness and may not be the most efficient way to live. Society also takes care of many things for us.
That being said, I am one for discovering myself and I would like to undo society’s programming and discover who I am. That requires me to be self-sufficient, which I would like to be. It will be freedom like none other. I may not leave for the woods but I will always be free to do so, which is empowering. I do not need to take shit from anyone because I’m not dependent on anyone.
But I realize, unlike Christopher McCandles, I don’t want to run away. This shift will happen gradually. And one day, I will be able to live in blissful solitude without being killed.
Till then, we are all pendulum-ing between society and solitude.