The Death of an Innocent Approach Paper

Paula Reytblat

Mr. Bailey

Essay Writing 

May 30, 2012

The Death of an Innocent Approach Paper

The Death of an Innocent by Jon Krakauer is the story of a young man, Christopher McCandless, who goes off into the Alaskan Bush with only 10 pounds of rice. James Gallien tries to persuade McCandless  in not going but he doesn’t listen and goes any way. Once he reached the Bush, McCandless realizes that he won’t be able to survive and wants to head back home but the river is frozen so he cannot cross back over it. He finds roots and eats them even though they are poisonous. He gets sick from the berries and ends up dying from starvation. 

Alexander Supertramp: brave, independent, curious, calm

Christopher McCandless: intelligent, smart, nice

James Gallien: nice, helpful, caring, hopeless

Wanye Westerburg: committed, supportive, caring

1. Compare and contrast Christopher McCandless’ life before he went to the Bush and while he was living in the Bush.
2. What three things could McCandless have brought with him to the Bush that would have helped him survive? 
3. Discuss the reason why McCandless wanted to go to the bush.

From Page 1:

Christopher McCandless: “I’m absolutely possitive,” he assured Gallien, “I won’t run into anything I can’t deal with on my own.”

Christopher was sure in himself that he would survive his journey. He wanted no help and he didn’t let anyone persuade him in not going. He was determined in going on his journey and it was his final decision in going. If he decided to not go then he would have survived. When he said: “I won’t run into anything I can’t deal with on my own,” he thought that he was prepared and that it would be easy.