Escapism vs. Community (Into the Wild Analysis)

My analysis of Into the Wild (featuring shoutouts to Wendell Berry and Huck Finn), for all the literature lovers out there!

The 2007 adaptation of Krakauer's book -- the true story of ill-fated adventurer Christopher McCandless -- remains one of my favorite films. While I’m still drawn to its transcendentalist aesthetic and its romantic portrayal of travel and ascetic rebellion, I’ve grown to think that this tragic story's deepest value is its reminder of the irreplaceable importance of community. After all, “Happiness [is] only real when shared.”

In this video essay, I draw from what might seem like an unlikely source -- an analysis of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Wendell Berry -- to explore this tension between the desire for adventure/escape and the deeper sense of freedom and meaning that is found in willing community membership.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
01:51 Escape in Huck Finn
03:06 Escape in Into the Wild
04:01 Huck Finn as America
05:24 Redefining Freedom
07:44 The Necessity of Community

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*Music (Creative Commons Attribution)

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TAGS - #intothewild, #analysis, #community, #happinessonlyrealwhenshared, American literature, movie review, film commentary, hidden meaning, deep meaning in movies, communal living, consumerism, materialism, adventure, nature, environmentalism, family, Thoreau, Walden, travel movie,

[filmneek]

I was blown away by this film. That slab city community looked like such a lovely place to be, I really envisage myself somewhere like that - and yet here I am stuck in London typing this out on my iPhone.

[nathanbranson]

Thanks for bringing Wendell Berry and Huck Finn into this conversation. That quote about wanting rights, power and freedom without responsibility cuts to the heart. I find the realities of adulthood to be very hard. Yet I also know that the realities of adulthood, if done well, can change the lives of other people.

[DanielChangtv]

“The other kind of freedom is the freedom to take care of ourselves and of each other, the freedom of affluence opposes and contradicts the freedom of community life.” Wendell Berry is spitting facts.

[dtcdragon]

This is one of the most amazing interpretations and analyses to McCandless’ story, one that brings an idea I think not many are willing to admit. Taking Chris’ story with this perspective has helped me see my life in a completely different light, and will forever change how I view the value of genuine community. As a kid in similar shoes to McCandless right now in my life, I could not be more grateful to have found this video.

Absolutely amazing essay, well done and thank you!

[Yari_no_sekai]

A broken family and, on top of that, no realisation from his parents led a young man to look for happiness outside. Eventually, he found happiness in the form of nature but wasn't prepared to keep it long. On his way, he did find good connections, but maybe he needed more time to be ready to have them as he couldn't have a genuine connection with his family, especially his parents. He didn't plan to die.
He wanted to live but needed to take proper precautions, which he didn't. And it ultimately led to his demise. However, people claim he wasn't sad about dying, but I believe he must have felt sad, yet he was content because he did what he wanted to do, and that's where that last not come when he wished everyone well.
He said, "Happiness is only real when shared." Through this quote, I realise that he finally realised the human connection we need to live in this world at the end of his life. A genuine connection, actually.
My only complaint from Chris would be his respect for his sister, as he never had a good connection with his parents, but his sister didn't deserve those years when she was waiting for him.
We can learn from his life, and I wish everyone reading the comments would learn from his life.

[Shvam]

Such a nice explanation of movie... Pls upload more of these videos

[miguelrojas]

There is a big chunk that remained untold about C. McCandless. His sister wrote a book, "The Wild Truth', where she talks about the abuse she and his sister suffered. He wasn't on some existential journey. He was running away from his pain. There is one part in "The Wild Truth", where one of C McCandless's road friends erupts in a violent drunken rage, mirroring the violence of his father. That moment highlights the tragedy of that pain we as men hide from

[in]

Beautiful. This resonates so much with Gabor Mate's the myth of normal: how could a traumatized Chris not need to escape the toxicity of his former life? He sought it in books of great authors who embodied authenticity at any cost (Tolstoy, London, Pasternak), and in the wild that they admired. But the denial of community may the deepest wound, the true reason for his escape.

It is truly sad he did not make it back to live what Tolstoy called family happiness. Yet his story, his words remain as a powerful message to us all, that it resonates with so many shows how much we all need community and communion with nature to heal our wounds.

[SirLiamson]

Corrupt shallow society vs found family or the family we choose. This is within all of us. People spend their lives earning money and collecting things to fit in or be admired, but really we all have a drive to belong. Even if it feels like we belong outside, it's simply asking to be found and to be seen.

[dwayneeutsey]

Years after Twain published "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, " it seems Twain may have had second thoughts on the ultimate outcome of heading out to the Territory. He wrote in his notebook: "Huck comes back, 60 years old, from nobody knows where—& crazy. Thinks he is a boy, & (seeks) scans always every face for Tom & Becky &c.”

[AshtinAhsan]

one of the best that i have ever watched, seen,felt

[reee]

Amazing video and amazing analysis man! You made me appreciate the book/movie even more and made me see things in a different way! Great implementation of Huck Finn as well!

[shreyarupani]

We are so used to urban life yet we romanticize freedom that comes with being a recluse and living a life that is free from the shackles of society. It would take immense courage and spirit to not follow the norms and to unlearn what I have learned. Fewer choices might bring more happiness than the limitless options available to our generation on a platter.

[vincyagain]

Thank you for making this video! I really like your analysis and all the the literature you cited. This movie gave me a lot to think about.

[nuclearboi]

Thanks for making me understand this better

[fabis.]

So much love and so much thank you for your work and this video ❤❤❤❤

[duylegend]

Where has this channel been all my life?

[sameersoninarnaul]

You are doing good work brother. Keep it up.

[MrMrs-gw]

I am Asperger’s, i always wanted to have friends but I always did it wrong. I still annoy people unintentionally and say stupid things that end up hurting others, embarrassing myself and more. It caused me enough trauma that I prefer being alone, knowing it can’t end in traumatic pain.
I am extremely fortunate and blessed that God sent me an autistic love of my life and we got married. We are so happy together. Thank God. I would love if we could just be nomads together but we have to go between parents to take care of them as they age. I have non stop anxiety ajout seeing people I know from our hometown. I was raised to be lovely to look at. Being on the spectrum I hated and rejected it but can’t shake feeling shame and guilt for getting sick and unsightly.

I know it’s not my fault but my upbringing force me to be a doll on display. Thinking of shocking other people I knew growing up, gives me so much anxiety that I get explosive nosebleeds and panic.

I hate people. I always say and do the wrong thing and it has caused me and my family consequences.

Only my wonderful hubby understands me thank God.

I wish I didn’t care what others think. I care that my mom would not have to feel like she failed me. Especially around her friends.

I want to hide when her circle wants to see me. I fake sick and if I don’t. I become sick from anxiety anyway.

I always pray to God for help.

[richardstever]

"A deadly civilization of piety and violence" - Huck Finn
There seems to be a community of people that like to put Chris down, choosing to insult rather than understand. An example follows...no elaboration...no enlightenment...just insult.
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