A STUDY OF CHRIS'S MOTIVATIONS IN LIVING OFF THE ...

A STUDY OF CHRIS’S MOTIVATIONS IN LIVING OFF THE LAND IN ALASKA

AS SEEN IN JON KRAKAUER’S INTO THE WILD

A THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

in English Language Education

By Andreas Candra Yoga Pamungkas

Student Number: 031214130

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA

2008

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

A STUDY OF CHRIS’S MOTIVATIONS

IN LIVING OFF THE LAND IN ALASKA


A THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

In English Language Education

By

Andreas Candra Yoga Pamungkas

Student Number:

031214130

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM

DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION

FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA

2008

i


iii


HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED

(Christopher Johnson McCandless)

Dedicated with love and gratitude to:

my Dad up heaven there and my super beautiful Mom, who have introduced me to the beauty of life

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STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY

I honestly declare that the thesis, which I wrote, does not contain the works or

parts of the works of ther people, except those cited in the quotations and the

references, as a scientific paper should.

Yogyakarta, 8 November 2008

The Writer,


031214130

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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

Yang bertandatangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:

Nama : Andreas Candra Yoga Pamungkas

Nomor Mahasiswa : 031214130

Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Uiversitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:

A STUDY OF CHRIS’S MOTIVATIONS IN LIVING OFF THE LAND IN ALASKA


Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis. Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya.

Dibuat di Yogyakarta

Pada tanggal: 28 November 2008

Yang menyatakan,


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to praise and thank my beloved Jesus Christ and

Mother Mary for the wonderful grace, blessings, and for giving me the strength

so that I could complete my thesis.

My deepest gratitude also goes to my major sponsor, Drs. A. Herujiyanto,

M.A., Ph.D. who always read, re-read my thesis, and supported me with his

beneficial suggestions. I do believe that without his guidance, I could never have

accomplished my thesis. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank him

for his sincere guidance, patience, and time. I also give thank Mbak Dani and

Mbak Tari for helping me with the administrative matters and to all Sanata

Dharma University staff.

My sincere gratitude goes to my beloved parents F. Sumpeno

Yudonugroho and Rosalia Budi M. who always give me supports

encouragement, and prayer. I also thank to my sister Mbak Ika and my brothers

Mas Irvan and Mas Candra for being patient to me.

I truthfully would like to thank my best friends: 6 CHE 2003, Inu, Yudo,

Edwin, Eong, Kuda, Si Po, etc. for the time they spent with me. I would also like

to thank Ajeng, Melon, Timur, Babi, Dudung, Grace, Cherly and my friends

at Sanata Dharma University for encouraging me to complete my thesis. I

would like to thank Mitra Perpustakaan for the cooperation during this time. I

hope our friendship will never end. Finally, I thank those whose names cannot be

mentioned one by one, who have helped and supported me. MAY GOD BLESS

THEM ALL.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE………………………………………..……………………………i

APPROVAL PAGE……………………..…………………………………….....ii

DEDICATION PAGE………………………………………………………......iii

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY……………………...…………iv

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI……….……….……v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..…………………….…………………...…………vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………...….………vii

LIST OF APPENDICES...…………………………………..…………………...x

ABSTRACT………………………………………………………….…………..xi

ABSTRAK………………………………………………….…..……….…......…xii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study……………………………………...1

1.2 Objectives of the Study………………………………………...3

1.3 Problem Formulation...………...………....……………………3

1.4 Benefits of the Study………...………..……………………….4

1.5 Definition of Terms……………………….………..………….4

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 Review of Related Theories……..…….………………………6

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2.1.1 Character……………………………………………………..6

2.1.2 Characterization……………………………………………...8

2.1.3 Approaches…………………...………………………….....10

2.1.4 Motivations………………..………………………………..12

2.2 Criticism…………...………………………………………....15

2.3 Theoretical Framework…….…………………………………17

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

3.1 Subject Matter………...………………………………………18

3.2 Approach………..……………….…………………………...19

3.3 Procedure….…………………………………………...……..20

CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS

4.1 The Description of Chris McCandless………………………..22

4.2 Chris McCandless’s Motivations

in Living of the Land in Alaska…………….……………….35

4.2.1 Having Interpersonal Conflict with His Parents……...…….35

4.2.2 Sharing His Love to the Nature and Others……….………..37

4.2.3 Showing His Ability as a Good Adventurer...………...……39

4.2.4 Having New Experiences………………..…………………41

4.2.5 Realizing His Dream of Wildlife………..……...…………..41

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CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

5.1 Conclusions…………………...……………………………...44

5.2 Suggestions……………..…………………………………….47

5.2.1 Suggestion for Future Researchers……………..…………..47

5.2.2 Suggestion for Teaching-Learning Activities…………..…..48

REFERENCES………………………..………………………………………...50

APPENDICES………………………………………………………………......52

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LIST OF APPENDICES

Page

Appendix 1: Summary of Into The Wild…………………………………….......53

Appendix 2: The Biography of Jon Krakauer……………………………………56

Appendix 3: Map of Alaska……………………………………………………...58

Appendix 4: Lesson Plan of Teaching Extensive Reading II ……………...……59

Appendix 5: Material…………………………………...………………………..60

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ABSTRACT

Pamungkas, Andreas Candra Yoga. 2008. A Study of Chris’s Motivations in Living off the Land in Alaska as Seen in Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program. Department of Language and Arts Education. Faculty of Teachers Training and Education. Sanata Dharma University. Yogyakarta.

This thesis analyzes Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild. It is about Christopher Johnson McCandless, the major character of the novel. He is a young man who hitchhikes to Alaska, walks alone, and lives off the land into the wilderness in the north of Mount McKinley. The aim of this thesis is to find out Christopher’s reasons to live in the wilderness. In order to do so, this study explores how Christopher is depicted in the novel and his motivations in conducting his actions.

This thesis is a library study. It employs psychological approach and several theories that are related to the study. The primary source is the novel itself, while the secondary sources are the movie based on the novel, some books on literature and psychology, as well as the related articles from the internet.

Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that Christopher Johnson McCandless is smart, brave, stubborn, and musical. He is also generous, friendly, and obsessed with social issues. Not only does he love his sister, but also he cares for the nature and wildlife.

Based on the human needs, his motivations can be categorized as intrinsic and extrinsic ones. His interpersonal conflicts with his parents, for example, can be categorized as one of his extrinsic motivations. His intrinsic motivations include sharing his love to the nature, having new experiences, and realizing his dream about wildlife.

Finally, this thesis suggests that further researchers examine the novel by focusing on Chris’s interpersonal conflicts due to his relation with his parents. As for English teachers, they are recommended to make use of the novel to teach Extensive Reading II.

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ABSTRAK

Pamungkas, Andreas Candra Yoga. 2008. A Study of Chris’s Motivations in Living off the Land in Alaska as Seen in Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris. Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni. Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Kependidikan. Universitas Sanata Dharma. Yogyakarta.

Skripsi ini menganalisa novel Into the Wild yang ditulis oleh Jon Krakauer. Novel ini berkisah tentang Christopher Johnson McCandless, tokoh utama, seorang anak muda yang menumpang ke Alaska, berjalan sendiri, dan hidup dari alam di hutan belantara di sebelah utara Gunung McKinley. Skripsi ini bertujuan untuk menemukan alasan-alasan Christopher untuk hidup di dalam hutan belantara. Untuk menemukannya, skripsi ini akan menyelidiki Christopher digambarkan dalam novel dan motivasi-motivasinya dalam melakukan tindakan-tindakannya.

Skripsi ini adalah studi pustaka. Studi pustaka yang dilakukan adalah dengan menggunakan pendekatan psikologi dan beberapa teori yang berhubungan dengan studi ini. Sumber primernya adalah novel itu sendiri, sedangkan sumber-sumber sekundernya adalah film yang berdasarkan novel tersebut, beberapa buku tentang psikologi dan kesusastraan, dan juga beberapa artikel dari internet.

Berdasarkan analisis yang dibuat, dapat disimpulkan bahwa Chris pintar, pemberani, keras kepala, dan memiliki bakat musik. Dia juga dermawan, ramah, dan terobsesi oleh persoalan-persoalan sosial. Chris tak hanya mencintai adik perempuannya, tetapi dia juga mencintai alam dan kehidupan margasatwa.

Berdasarkan apa yang dinamakan dengan kebutuhan-kebutuhan manusia, motivasi-motivasi Chris adalah motivasi yang muncul dari dalam dirinya dan dari luar dirinya. Memiliki konflik interpersonal dengan orang tuanya sebagai contoh, dapat digolongkan sebagai salah satu motivasi yang muncul dari luar dirinya. Motivasi dari dalam dirinya yakni termasuk berbagi cintanya pada alam dan sesama, memiliki pengalaman-pengalaman baru, dan mewujudkan mimpinya akan kehidupan marga satwa.

Akhirnya, novel ini menyertakan saran-saran bagi peneliti lain yang hendak mempelajari novel ini lebih jauh dengan mengacu pada konflik interpersonal Chris dalam hubungannya dengan orang tuanya. Selain itu bagi pengajar bahasa Inggris, mereka juga disarankan untuk memanfaatkan novel ini sebagai bahan mata kuliah Extensive Reading II.

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Chapter one consists of five parts. They are background of the study,

objectives of the study, problem formulation, benefits of the study, and definition

of terms. The background of the study explains some reasons underlying the basis

for writing on the topic. The second section talks about the objectives of the study

to answer the problem formulation. The third one is problem formulation, which

gives general description of the problem that will be analyzed in this study. The

fourth part is the benefits of the study. Finally, description of terms explains

meaning of some important terms related to the study.

1.1 Background of the Study

Human beings have many needs to be pursued, for example they need food,

water, house to live in. If people can fulfill their basis needs, they move to the

higher level of needs. It is common when people do actions to fulfill the needs,

difficulties emerge. To be successful in passing difficulties, someone must have a

strong willingness to do actions. The strong willingness underlying the actions is

called motivations.

A literary work such as a novel reflects the reality of life. Lynch and Warner

say that novels offer a detail and general representation of everyday life. The story

of novel more or less illustrates the reality of life. Motivation is a phenomenon

which is realistic and deals with life situations and off course, it can be presented

in a novel because a novel presents the reality of life. Therefore, it can be said that

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a novel can represent motivation because motivation is real in daily life.

Moreover, the novel used in this study is based on true story.

One of the novels represents someone’s motivation is the novel Into The

Wild. The novel tells the story of a young man who has strong motivations to go

to Alaska. The major character, Christopher Johnson McCandless, has some

motivations in order to be persistent in living off the land in Alaska. According to

Abrams, character’s motivation is portrayed from their speech and actions and

presented through their temperament, desires, and the moral nature.

I was interested in reading the novel after watching “Oprah Winfrey Show”

on the television. Chris’s parents and sister came to this show to tell much about

Chris’s life. When I read the novel Into The Wild, I was interested in Chris

McCandless’s experiences of having motivations to live off the land in Alaska. It

was because Chris donated his college fund to OXFAM America, which was

dedicated for fighting hunger and then went to Alaska to live off the land there

whereas in fact he has a rich family. I was interested in this novel also because I

loved nature and did some adventures as Chris did. Then I decided to analyze

Chris McCandless’s motivations in living off the land in Alaska.

The novel began when Jim Gallien drove Chris McCandless to Alaska,

where Chris then finds his death after living off there for 113 days alone. Living

off there is his greatest desire. After graduating from Emory University, in May

1990, he decided to begin his journey to Alaska. Chris’s trips to Alaska took 2

years. During the trips to Alaska, he got a lot of new friends who helped him.

Nevertheless, during the trips he also found many difficulties such as he got his

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car stuck because of flashflood, being caught when he hops in the train, and losing

his canoe because of the strong wind. His great willingness to live off the land

made Chris keep on struggling to go to Alaska and living off the land there.

This study, then, focuses on Chris McCandless’s motivations in living off

the land in Alaska. It is interesting to discuss motivations since it always happens

in daily life. People might experience motivations when they want to fulfill their

needs in life.

1.2 Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is to find out what one’s reasons to live off in the

wilderness as seen in Chris, the major character of Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild.

In order to find the reasons, this study will explore what the possible motivations

of the major character in doing his actions are. In addition, this study tries to

assure the readers that sometimes people do something different from others from

what they feel and what they want that results from certain motivations they have.

1.3 Problem Formulation

In this section, there are two problems that arise into discussion. They are

formulated as follows:

1. How is Chris described in Into The Wild?

2. What are Chris’s motivations in living off the land in Alaska?

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1.4 Benefits of the Study

There are some advantages of this study. First, analyzing this novel gives

me more information about literature and motivations. I know more about one’s

persistence and struggles in reaching the dream.

The second benefit is for those who are interested in literary works. This

study can help them to understand the major character’s motivations, how the

author characterizes the character, and the author’s message.

The third benefit is for the readers of English Language Education Study

Program of Sanata Dharma University. They can use this study as a reference in

analyzing a literary work.

1.5 Definition of Terms

This section deals with the important terms used in this study. The terms are

described as follows:

1. Character

This study uses two kinds of character’s definitions. The first definition is

related to the literary study. According to Abrams, characters are the persons

presented in dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the readers as

being endowed with moral and disposition qualities that are expressed in what

they say (dialogue) and by what they do (the action) (23). In this study, character

refers to Chris, the major character in Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild. The second

is related to the psychological study. Based on Stanton’s opinion, character deals

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with someone’s interests, desires, emotions, and moral principles. It creates a

distinctive type of person or, character refers to someone’s trait.

2. Motivations

According to Bootzin et. al., “motivation” as the “corresponding process” of

an energetic behaviour which is “define its and state” (367). Worchel and

Shebilske state that motivation is the reason why an individual plays in certain

way in certain time (373-374).

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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter discusses the theories that are used to analyze the topic of this

study. This chapter consists of three sections, namely review of related theories,

criticism, and theoretical framework. Review of related theories consists of theory

of character, theory of characterization, theory of approaches, and theory of

motivations. Criticism contains some criticism on Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild.

Theoretical framework explains how the theories are employed to answer the

questions in the problem formulation.

2.1 Review of Related Theories

2.1.1 Character

Character can not be separated from a novel. According to Abrams,

characters are “the persons presented in a narrative or dramatic work, who are

interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and

emotional, and emotional qualities that are expected in what they say in the

dialogue and what they do in action” (23). It means that character is the person

who is presented in a literary work, such as novel. Characters in a novel have their

own characteristics or in another word, each character in a novel has different

characteristics.

Character can be determined into two terms. There are major and minor

characters. According to Milligan, a major character is the most important

character in the literary work. He plays a very important role because he becomes

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the content of the story. He plays from the beginning until the end of the story and

influences the whole story, so his appearance is more often than the other

characters. From his action, the idea of the story is conveyed. While minor

characters are characters who plays less important role than major characters.

Their appearance supports the major character to develop the story so that they

appear only in certain setting (155).

A major character is the centre of the story since he endures problems,

conflict, happiness and sorrow. From his actions, the readers know the author’s

messages of the story. A minor character does not play big roles in the story

because they do not play significant roles in the story as the major character does.

Meanwhile, Forster states that there are two kinds of characters, flat and

round characters. A flat character is simple and there is not much individualizing

detail in this character (74). Forster also says that this kind of character is flat

because the readers see only one side of him. Round character is more complex in

temperament and motivation and is represented with subtle individuality.

Therefore, it is difficult to describe this kind of character. This character is more

or less the same as a person in real life and has capability of surprising us.

According to Forster’s statement about kinds of characters, the character can be

recognized from their complexity. A flat character does not have a complexity in

the sense that there are not much traits or individualizing details in him. Thus,

general readers can recognize this character without any difficulty. Furthermore, a

round character is more complex than a flat character. Readers do not easily

7


recognize a round character because this character can change his personality into

some one that we do not expect before.

2.1.2 Characterization

a. Definition of Characterization

In order to know Chris’s characterization in the novel, I use the theory that

is related to characterization. Rohrberger and Woods say that characterization is a

process by which an author creates a character (20). Characterization is an

important element in a novel. Meanwhile, Murphy states that characterization is

“the technique used by the author to make the qualities of the character from his

likes and dislikes, how he lives, and what he does” (52). It means that

characterization is the way that is used by the author in his literary work to make

the readers able to recognize the character and to find out the ideas which are

conveyed by the character. This statement is supported by Holman and Harmon.

They say that the term characterization is “the creation of the imaginary persons

so that they exist for the readers as lifelike” (81). In short, characterization is the

way the author shows and tries to make his characters alive and understandable

for the readers as realistic ones in his literary work.

b. Methods of Characterization

According to Murphy in his book Understanding Unseens: An Introduction

to English Poetry & English Novel for Overseas Students, there are nine ways of

describing characters in a story (161-173). Those are described as follows:

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1) Personal description

To describe the character, the author explains physical appearances of the

character, such as face, skin, body, clothes and hair cut.

2) Character as seen by another

Instead of describing, the author can directly describe the character

through the opinion from another. Others characters will give explanation

about what the character is like. Others’ thoughts about a certain character can

be a significant factor to build understanding of him.

3) Speech

The author can give us insight into the thought through what the character

says.

4) Past life

By learning a person’s past life, the author can give the readers a clue that

has helped to shape a person’s character. The character’s past life is always

closely connected to his present life.

5) Conversation with others

The author can give a clue to a person’s character to the readers through

conversation of other people and things they say about him. We need to pay

attention towards the conversations of other characters. It is useful to go to

speech-by-speech to determine exactly what is meant and implied by them.

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6) Reaction

The author also gives the readers a clue by letting us know how the

character reacts toward various situations and events, as a way to describe the

character.

7) Direct comment

The author gives a straightforward comment or description to the readers

about the character directly.

8) Thought

The author gives a clue about a character’s characteristics through the

character’s thought.

9) Mannerism

The author may describe a person’s mannerism that may also represent the

character.

2.1.3 Approaches

According to Rohrberger and Woods, there are five approaches which can

be used in analyzing a literary work. They are formalist approach, the

biographical approach, the sociocultural-historical approach, the mythopoeic

approach, and the psychological approach (3-15). Those five approaches are

explained as follows:

a. The Formalist Approach

The formalist approach insists on the totality of the integration of the

literary works. The esthetic values of the novel shown from the harmonious

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involvement of all parts to the whole, and it concerns with the point out how

meaning is derived from structures and how matters of technique determine

structure (6-7).

b. The Biographical Approach

The biographical approach takes us to the necessity for an appreciation of

the ideas and the personality of the author to an understanding of the literary

object. This approach derives the literary works as the reflection of someone’s

personality. By reading it the readers may understand and get the author’s point of

view, ideas, and consciousness (8).

c. The Sociocultural – Historical Approach

The sociocultural – historical approach is considered from the social,

cultural, and historical events where the literary work is produced. The subject

matter is the definition of the civilization of attitudes and actions. Civilization is

defined as the attitudes and actions of a specific group of people. It is necessary to

investigate the social milieu, the cultural and the historical background in which a

novel is created (9).

d. The Mythopoeic Approach

The mythopoeic approach seeks to discover certain universally recurrent

patterns of human thoughts which they may believe to find the expression in

significant work of art. The universally recurrent patterns are those that found first

expression in ancient myths and folk rites and also basic to human thought that

they have meaning for all men (11).

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e. The Psychological Approach

The psychological approach involves the effort to locate and demonstrate

certain recurrent patterns. It uses various theories of psychology to explain the

characters, motivation, and behaviour pattern (13).

In this study, I apply the psychological approach. I focus on the motivations

which become one of psychological issues of someone. The psychological

approach leads us to analyze the character from the psychological point of view.

The psychological approach helps me to understand the character’s personality

and behaviour pattern better because it is from the psychological point of view

which is related to the motivations.

2.1.4 Motivations

For the reason that this is the study of the major character’s motivations in

living of the land in Alaska, I need to know some theories motivations. This part

is about the theory of motivations which consists of the definition of motivations,

the kinds of motivations, and the causes of motivations.

a. The Definition of Motivations

Psychologists, Bootzin et. al. state “motivation” as the “corresponding

process” of an energetic behaviour which is “define its and state” (367). In order

to make the definition understandable, Worchel and Shebilske say that

motivations are “the reason why an individual plays in a certain way at a certain

time” (373). Therefore, it can be understood that motivations are the certain

behaviour and they are done of some purposes that lead to reach some goals.

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b. The Kinds of Motivations

Worchel and Shebilske (1988: 408) divide motivations into two kinds. They

are extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation. Extrinsic motivation comes from

the external factors of an individual. The external factors might be come from

their desires to pay, status, grades, promotion and the similar types of rewards.

The other kind of motivations is the intrinsic motivation. When people do actions

which are derived from the enjoyment and satisfaction, it is called intrinsic

motivation. In addition, Worchel and Shebilske state that intrinsic motivation has

two basis, they are: the people should control their behaviour and they should

have feeling as a capable and a competent person. Basically, the difference

between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation is on the activation of the action. The

extrinsic motivation is activated by some rewards while intrinsic motivation is

activated by enjoyment of the performance rather than an expectation of reward.

c. The Causes of Motivations

According to Maslow, motivation is classified into the needs hierarchy (35-

46). He classifies a hierarchy of human basic needs which is classifying human

motivation. The hierarchy starts from the physiological needs, the safety and

security needs, the love and belongingness needs, the self esteem needs, the self

actualization needs. Maslow says that the higher level can not be activated until

the lower level at least partially satisfied.

The first needs are physiological needs. It includes the needs for food,

oxygen, water, and sleep. “A person who is lacking of food, safety, love, and

esteem would most probably hunger of food more strongly than anything else.

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Maslow in Braun’s book adds that a person who is extremely hungry and thirsty

would not even think of the social acceptance and security. He or she would

become more creative to achieve the needs (35).

When the physiological needs are satisfied, the safety and security needs

come out. People needs to feel safe and they also need the stability, dependency,

protection, freedom from fear, from anxiety and chaos, need for structure, order,

law, limits, strength in protection. The safety needs come out when people feel

threats by others in the sense of law, order, and the sense of authority (39).

The needs of love, affection, and belongingness will emerge when the safety

and security needs are satisfied. When someone feels left by other people, this

kind of needs emerge (43).

The next is the self-esteem needs. Maslow divides the self-esteem needs

into two categories. The first one includes the desires of strength, achievement,

adequacy, mastery and competence, confidence, and the independence and

freedom. The second category consists of desires of reputation and prestige,

status, fame, glory, dominance, recognition, dignity or appreciation. Maslow

states that the satisfaction of the self-esteem needs leads to feelings of self

confidence, worth, strength, capability, and adequacy of being useful and

necessary in the world (45).

The self-actualization needs usually emerge when the physiological needs,

the safety and security needs, the love and belongingness needs, and the self-

esteem needs are satisfied. Maslow says,”What man can be. He must be. He must

be true to his own nature.” People should play their own actions without imitating

14


others. Being their own and doing what they can do is the example of self

actualization. The lack of the self-actualization needs satisfaction needs might

cause bad feelings, inferior and powerlessness (46).

Motivation is caused by human needs which classify into hierarchy. Maslow

states that the higher level of needs can not be activated until the lower level of

needs at least partially satisfied.

2.2 Criticism

Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild is a new novel. The criticism on Jon Krakauer

and his literary works comes from many sources. The criticism is used for helping

the reader to understand the author’s work deeper. Jon Krakauer is the author of

Eiger Dreams, Into The Wild, and Into Thin Air and is editor of the Modern

Library Exploration series. He is good in writing adventure stories. Many people

like to read Into The Wild because this novel is based on true story and

meaningful. Some life values in the novel such as Chris’s motivations attract the

readers to read the novel. Nevertheless, some people have different opinions.

Therefore some comments of some people will be presented in this section.

The Washington Post (Into The Wild, 1998) stated that when the novel was

first published, it became an instant classic of American literary nonfiction.

Catherine Sweet, a reader from New York said that this book is an unexpected

treasure. Though she initially has disdain for Christopher, she begins to

understand Chris when she realizes he was really just trying to sort out the same

issues that we all need answers questions like, "Why am I here?", "What is my

15


purpose?" and “What has lasting value and meaning in life?". He said that it is a

great book. Other positive opinion is from Nick Farago, a reader from New York.

He states that Into The Wild is an essential item on the shelf of every non-fiction

enthusiast. It is a story of Chris McCandless, his life, and his tragic death at the

hands of the Alaskan wilderness. The author, Jon Krakauer, uses every possible

technique to give light to an epic tale of adventure, risk, and peril. He

recommends this book on the basis of Krakauer’s brilliant style and dedication,

and a story that will leave the reader in a retrospective trance. For every person

who has immersed themselves in nature or plans on doing so must have insight

into the life of Chris McCandless. A fascinating story involving an even more

compelling subject makes Into The Wild a frustratingly hard book to put down.

The story gives insight into the psychology of McCandless’s life and the

adventure that took it from him.

However, some people state negative opinions. As Beth’s opinion, that she

had to read this book for a summer assignment for school and she thought it was

horrible. She cannot understand McCandless' motivations for wanting to wander

off into the wilderness all alone with no knowledge on how to survive. She also

has a problem with the way the book was written. She thinks that the author skips

from one topic to the next. One chapter, he's died. The next, he's working at a

Burger joint. After that, we tour his childhood. Then, he is dying. There is no

chronological order and the flow of the story is choppy and hard to follow.

Therefore, she would not recommend the novel to the readers.

http://www.bookrags.com/highbeam/penns-haunting-journey-into-the-hb/,

16


http://www.bookbrowse.com/reader_reviews/index.cfm?book_number=191&start

_id=13&order=dt&view=long, accessed on Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 11.00 p.m.

2.3 Theoretical Framework

This study is set to find out the motivations of Christopher Johnson

McCandless, the major character of Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild, in living of the

land in Alaska. In analyzing the novel, some theories are applied. The theories are

theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of critical approach, and

theory of motivation.

In order to analyze the first problem in this study, theory of character is

applied. The theory is used to help me to understand what kind of character Chris

is. Theories of major and minor characters are used to understand the character of

Chris.

The theory of characterization is used to analyze the characteristics of Chris.

The characteristics of Chris can be identified from his personal description, he as

seen by other characters, his speech, his reactions, his thoughts, and his manner.

The theory of critical approach is used to gather more information about this

novel. The theory of motivation is applied to get a better understanding about

motivations of Chris in living off the land in Alaska in order to answer the second

problem in this study.

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CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

This chapter is divided into three sections. The first section is subject matter

which explains the content of Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild. The second section

is approach which explains the approach that I use in this study. The third is

procedures which contain series of steps in conducting this study.

3.1 Subject Matter

In this study, I analyze the novel Into The Wild written by Jon Krakauer.

The novel was first published in USA in 1998 in New York by Villard Books, a

division of Random House, Inc., New York. This edition was published in 2007

by Pan Books, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, Ltd., London. It consists of 205

pages and 18 chapters.

The novel was already filmed by Paramount Vantage. The novel Into The

Wild tells about the story of Chris McCandless who comes from a rich and well

educated family. He grows without spending much time with his parents since his

parents are so busy with their jobs. His parents also often get quarreling and

threatening to divorce each other. It makes him feels lack of love from his parents.

Chris is always interested in the nature and the wildlife. It is because he

admires his grandfather who lives near to the nature. Chris loves having road trips

and going for camping. Finally, after graduating from his university, he decides to

go to Alaska to live off the land. He finds many troubles during his two-year-trips

to Alaska. Nevertheless, he can be in Alaska with his struggles. Finally, after

18


living off the land for 113 days in Alaska, he finds his death after consuming

poisoning root which is not explained in the book he brings whether it is

poisoning or not. This error brings him to his death.

The novel represents many aspects of human life. One of them is about the

human motivations. The novel tells how Chris keeps his motivations in living off

the land in Alaska. He has to build his motivations in living off the land in Alaska

although he finds difficulties during the trips to Alaska and when living off the

land in Alaska.

3.2 Approach

In conducting the study, the psychological approach is applied. It is because

this study focuses on the major character’s motivations, which are a part of

psychological aspects. Thus, the psychological approach is applied.

This psychological approach leads us to analyze the character from the

psychological point of view. The character’s behaviour, mind, and appearance

must be noticed. By using the psychological approach, we can analyze the details

of character’s behaviours, mind, and appearance. The psychological approach

helps me to understand the character’s personality better and the character’s

characterizations which are closely related to his motivations in doing actions.

By applying this approach, we can understand the character’s reasons why

he extremely wants to live off the land in Alaska. The reasons behind his

willingness are related to the motivations. Therefore, the psychological approach

is appropriate to analyze the problems in this study.

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3.3 Procedure

The procedure of this study consists of some steps in analyzing Jon

Krakauer’s Into The Wild. First of all, I read the novel several times to get better

understanding. Then, I watched the Into The Wild movie. After that, I read it

again and I focused on the Chris’s characterizations in the novel and his

motivations in living off the land in Alaska.

On the second step, I formulated the problem formulations. In this case, the

problem formulations were related to how the major character is described in the

novel and the major character’s motivations in living off the land in Alaska.

The third step was looking for information related to the Jon Krakauer, the

novel, Into The Wild, and also the topic which would be analyzed such as

character and motivation. The information was gathered from some literature

books and psychology books, especially which were related to character and

motivation. I also gathered the data from some sources in the internet. They were

important as the guidance and direction to answer the questions in problem

formulation.

The next step was doing the analysis. I analyzed the characterization of

Chris McCandless as the major character of the novel. The analysis also discussed

Chris’s motivations in living off the land in Alaska. In this analysis I used the

psychological approach and also applied some related theories such as: character,

characterization, and motivation theories.

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Finally, the last step, I concluded the important points of the analysis as the

results of the analysis. I also made suggestions for future researchers and for

teaching-learning activities.

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CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

This analysis is to find the answers in the problem formulation. The novel

Into the Wild serves as the main resource and the theories in the chapter two are

implemented as the supporting theories.

This chapter is divided into two sections. The first analysis concerns with

the description of Chris in the novel. The second analysis concerns with Chris’s

motivations to live off the land. The purpose of analyzing the character is to

understand the motivations of the major character to live off the land as described

in Into the Wild.

4.1 The Description of Chris McCandless

In the novel, a character plays an important role in building a story.

According to Barnet, a character is a figure of a literary work (7). It can be stated

that Chris is the character in the novel.

According to Milligan, in his theory of character, there are two kinds of

character, namely major character and the minor character. Major character is the

most important character in a literary work. He plays very important role since he

becomes the focus of the story. He plays his role from the beginning until the end

of the story and influences the whole story, so his appearance is more often than

the other character. Through his action, the idea of the story is conveyed (155). In

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this novel, Chris is the major character. He appears from the beginning to the end

of the story.

In order to understand a character fully, Murphy (1972: 161-168) states nine

methods of characterization, namely personal description, characters as seen by

another, speech, past life, conversation of others, direct comment, reaction,

thoughts, and mannerism. Nevertheless, there are only some methods that will be

implemented to understand the major character.

In this part, the character will be analyzed in details. Quotations from the

novel will be used to support the character’s characterizations. Characterization is

an important part to present the characters in a novel. It can make the novel

interesting for the readers because the story represents the human lives. What

happened in the novel can be what happened in our daily lives.

Chris is the major character of the novel. Chris is the son of Samuel Walter

McCandless, NASA’s project manager with his wife from the second marriage

whose name is Billie. By 1965, Chris’s father’s marriage is in trouble. Walt and

his wife, Marcia, separate. Walt started dating a secretary at Hughes named

Wilhelmina Johnson or called Billie. They fall in love and move in together. Billie

gets pregnant. On February 12, 1968, Billie gives birth of son (106).

Chris’s father and mother are often so busy with their works which make his

father often pay less attention to his family. Their parents work on incredibly

hours. When Chris and Carine wake up in the morning, usually they have gone to

their office. When Chris and Carine go to bed at night, usually they are still in

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their office working. They make good money, but they fail to provide much time

for their children (107).

Chris has a younger sister who is three years old younger. Her name is

Carine. Chris loves his sister very much. Both Walt and Billie are tightly wound

and emotional, loath to give ground. Chris and Carine often see their parents get

quarrels and blaming each other. Therefore, Chris and Carine are so close to each

other. They count on each other when their parents are not getting along (107).

According to the theory of characterization which is suggested by Murphy

in his book, Chris characterization can be seen through his personal description,

he as seen by other characters, his speech, his reactions, his thoughts, and his

manner.

4.1.1 Smart

Chris is a smart boy. He is good at almost everything that interests him. He

does not get many difficulties in learning something that he likes. He brings home

good grades. He puts some high values of life according to what he thinks ideal to

him.

“He seemed extremely intelligent,” Franz states in an exotic brogue that sounds like a blend of Scottish, Pennsylania Dutch, and Carolina drawl. (52) … Franz grew increasingly fond of Mcandless. “God, he was a smart kid.” (53) … “Chris was a high achiever in almost everything that caught his fancy. Academically he brought home A’s with little effort. Only once did he receive grade lower than B: an F, in high school physics.” (109)

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Chris does not get into trouble. He is a high achiever. He does what he is

supposed to. His parents do not really have grounds to complain. But they gets on

his case about going to college; and whatever they say to him it must have

worked. Because he ends up going to Emory, even though he thinks it is pointless,

a waste of time and money.

His new friends he gets during the road trip to Alaska also think in the same

way. They see Chris as a smart and intelligent boy. He can figure out how to

paddle a canoe down to Mexico, how to hop freight trains, and how to score a bed

at inner-city missions. That is why Burres, one of Chris’s new friends he gats

during the trip think that he also will be successful in Alaska.

According to Murphy about characterization from characters as seen by

another as represented in the analysis above, we can conclude that Chris is a smart

boy, especially at what he is interested in. He rarely gets difficulties while doing

the activities or subjects that he likes, but he doesn’t like to do something under

someone’s order.

4.1.2 Brave

Chris is brave. He dares to get alone without getting lonely. He does not get

afraid even though he is outside in the darkness alone. Chris is fearless even when

he is a kid.

Walt grows quiet, staring absently to the distance. “Chris was fearless even when he was little,” he says after a long pause “He didn’t the odds applied to him. We were always trying to pull him back from the edge.” (109)

25


… at a prominent notch called the Keyhole, Walt decided to turn around. He was tired and feeling the altitude. The route above looked slabby, exposed dangerous. “I’d had it, OK,” Walt explains, “but Chris wanted to keep on going to the top. I told him no way. He was only twelve then, so all he could do was complain… (109)

When he is a kid, he does not have any trouble with being afraid in the

darkness. When he is a little kid, he ever gets up in the middle of the night, finds

his way outside without waking up his parents, and enters a house down the street

to plunder a neighbor’s candy drawer. When he is a teenage, he often comes to the

places in which many people do not want to be there. He often parks down on

Fourteenth Street, which his friend thinks is a real bad part of the town. He spends

for hours hanging out in creepy places, talking with pimps and hookers and low

life. His friend, Eric feels scared when he accompanies Chris there (114).

Based on the statements above we can see Krakauer tries to highlight that

Chris lives with the bravery to get what he likes and ideal. He ignores any fear

which may block him to achieve his goals. He is brave to defend his thoughts and

to do what attracts his mind.

4.1.3 Musical

Chris McCandless has musical aptitude. It is seen when he and his sister had

some musical rivalry. Nevertheless, it does not damage their relationship. Chris

gets his musical aptitude since his early age. Both Carine and Chris share Walt’s

musical aptitude. Chris took up the guitar, piano, French horn. Even when he is a

kid he loves Tony Bennet. He sings songs like ‘Tender Is the Night’ while Walt

accompanies him on piano. He is a good player. Indeed, in a goofy video Chris

26


makes in college, he can be heard belting out “Summer by the sea/Sailboats in

Capri” with impressive panache, crooning like a professional lounge singer (110).

Their musical rivalry seems not to have damaged their relationship between Chris and Carine, however. They’d been best friends from an early age, spending hours together building forts out of cushions and blankets in their Annandale living room. “He was very nice to me,” says Carine. (110)

Chris has his musical aptitude since he was a kid. He does not want to be

left behind from his sister. He quits from high school band not only because he

does not want to be told by the band leader about what to do, but also because his

sister gets the first chair in the senior band when Chris is his senior.

Chris still loves to play music until he makes his trip to Alaska. It can be

seen from the old guitar that he brings in his beloved car. The guitar is bought by

Walt when Billie gives birth of Chris. Walt buys Billie a Gianini guitar on which

she strummed lullabies to soothe the fussy newborn. Twenty two years later, the

park rangers from the National Park Service finds the same guitar on the backseat

of a yellow Datsun abandoned near the shore of Lake Mead where Chris gets

flashflood on his road trip to Alaska (106).

4.1.4 Generous and Obsessed with Social Issues

Chris is obsessed with social issues. It often comes to his mind and attracts

his attention much. This is because he studies much about social issues while he is

at Woodson University. It always takes Chris so serious if talking about life, race,

and other serious things related to such things like society. He likes everything

related to social issues. Chris often hangs out during snack break at his locker

27


with his friend and talk about life, the state of the world, serious things. They try

to figure out why people make such a big deal about race. Chris talks to his friend

about that kind of thing (113).

He is obsessed with social issues, especially when his senior year at

Woodson, racial oppression in South Africa attracts his attention. He takes life

inequities to heart. Even he would like to go to Africa to struggle to end apartheid.

He argues with one of his friend, Eric about this problem. Chris does not like

going through channels, working within the system, waiting his turn. He would

say if he can raise enough money, he wants them to go to South Africa to fight the

racism. Nevertheless, his friend thinks that he is just kidding at that time. Then

Chris will say that his friend is not seriously dealing with this problem. His friend

says that they are a couple of kids, that they couldn’t possibly make a difference.

Nevertheless, he can not argue with him. Chris comes back the statement that his

friend does not really care about what is right or wrong.

The social issues often make Chris to do some favors for others. He spends

his money for helping the poor, buying some meals for homeless people, or

chatting with prostitutes. It represents that he is a nice person who cares about the

others. He wants to help people without differentiating who they are, where they

come from, or what race they are.

On weekends, when his high school pals were attending “keggers” and trying to sneak into Georgetown bars, McCandless would wander the seedier quarters of Washington, chatting with prostitutes and homeless people, buying them meals, earnestly suggesting ways they might improve their lives. (113)

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“Chris didn’t understand how people could possibly be allowed to go hungry, especially in this country,” says Billie. “He would rave about that kind of thing for hours. (113)

Chris always loves helping people. He does it in a lot of times. He even

brings a homeless man to his house. On one occasion Chris picks up a homeless

man from the streets of D.C., brings him home to leafy, affluent Annandale, and

secretly set the guy up in the Airstream trailer beside the garage. Walt and Billie

never know he is hosting a vagrant. On another occasion, he drives his car with

Hathaway, one of his friends and says to him that he will go downtown. At first,

he thinks they will go to Georgetown to party. Instead, Chris parks down on

Fourteenth Street, which at the time was a real bad part of town. Then Chris says

that they can read about this stuff, but they can not understand until they live it.

They spent the next few hours hanging out in creepy places, talking with pimps

and hookers and lowlife (113-114).

4.1.5 Stubborn and Persistent

Chris is also quite stubborn. He does not like to do something that makes

him bored and uncomfortable. He does not want to do something under pressure

or to be told about what to do by someone else. If he likes to do something, he

wants to do it by his own way. He has his own ways which can make him feel

comfortable when doing something. He puts high standards for himself to

achieve. Sometimes he pushes himself to achieve his goals.

…“He quit playing partly because he didn’t like being told what to do but also because of me. I wanted to be like Chris, so I started to play French-horn, too. And it turned out to be the one thing I was better at than he was. When I was a freshman and he was a senior, I made first chair in the

29


senior band, and there was no way he was going to sit behind his damn sister.” (110) “Chris had so much natural talent,” Walt continues, “but if you tried to coach him, to polish his skill, to bring out that ten percent, a wall went up. (111)

He puts high standards for himself to achieve. Sometimes he pushes himself

to achieve his goals. On his trip to Alaska, weary of paddling, he hauls the canoe

far up the beach, climbs a sandstone bluff, and sets up camp on the edge of a

desolate plateau. He stays there for ten days, until high winds force him to seek

refuge in a cave midway up the precipitous face of the bluff, where he remains for

another ten days. He greets the new year by observing the full moon as it rose

over the Gran Desierto–the Great Desert which is seventeen hundred square miles

of shifting dunes, the largest expanse of pure sand desert in North America. A day

later he continues paddling down the barren shore (36). It proves that Chris is

stubborn and persistent in achieving his wants.

…. After a bad race or even a bad time trial during practice, he could be really hard on himself. And he wouldn’t want to talk about it. If I tried to console him, he’d act annoyed and brush me off. He internalized the disappointment. He’d go off alone somewhere and beat himself up. (112)

From the statements above, we know that Chris often pushes himself to

attain his goals. If he fails to get what his goals, he will get so disappointed. It

proves that he puts high standards for himself. This makes Chris persistent in

doing something, but off course by his own ways or being controlled by others. It

represents that Chris also loves to get himself feel free.

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4.1.6 Loves the Nature and His Sister

Chris loves the nature since he was a kid. He likes playing with his dog

which supposedly his sister’s dog, named Buckley. Chris loves playing around

with Buck. He likes gets some running with Buck.

… When Chris was twelve, Walt and Billie bought Carine a puppy, a Shetland sheepdog named Buckley, and Chris fell into the habit taking the pet with him on his daily training runs. “Buckley was supposedly my dog,” says Carine “but he and Chris inseparable. (111)

Chris always gets excited when his family having outdoor camping or any

kinds of outdoor activities. Everything about wildlife always attracts him and

brings him closer to the nature. When Chris is eight years old, Walt takes him on

his first overnight backpacking trip, a three-day hike in the Shenandoah to climb

Old Rag. They make the Summit. He carries his own pack the whole way. Hiking

up the mountain becomes a father-son tradition (109).

Chris tells Stuckey about his intent to spend the summer alone, in the bush,

living off the land. He says it is something he wants to do since he was little. He

does not want to see a single person, no airplanes, no sign of civilization. He

wants to prove to himself that he could make it on his own, without anybody

else’s help (158).

He admires his grandfather whose name is Loren Johnson. He was always

raising wildlife. Loren lives near to the nature and loves animals. That is the

reason why sometimes he gets intrapersonal conflict when he hurts animals.

Loren, not surprisingly, was charmed by Chris. And Chris adored his grandfather. The old man’s backwoods savvy, his affinity of wilderness, left a deep impression on the boy. (109)

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Loren Johnson is proud and stubborn and dreamy, a woodsman, a self-

taught musician, a writer of poetry. Around Iron Mountain his rapport with

creatures of the forest is legendary. He is always raising wildlife. If he finds some

animal in trap, take it home, amputate the injured limb, heal it, and then let it go

again. One day, Loren hits a mother deer with his truck, making an orphan of its

fawn. He is crushed. But he brings the baby deer home and raised it inside the

house, behind the woodstove, just like it is one of his kids (108).

Since Chris admires his grandfather so much, Chris also likes doing outdoor

activities and everything about wildlife as Loren. Sometimes, Loren has to kill

wild animals when he works as a hunt guide which makes him unhappy so much.

He does it in order to support his family. Chris and Loren share almost the same

ideas and feelings about wildlife. Chris also cries when he kills the big animal as

his grandfather does.

… He opened a stable and sold horse rides for tourists. Much of the food he put on the table from hunting-despite the fact that he was uncomfortable killing animals. “My dad cried every time he shot a deer,” Billie says, “but we had to eat, so he did it.” … (108) … He would guarantee them a buck before they left, but most of them were lousy shots and drank so much that they couldn’t hit anything, so he’d usually had to shoot the deer for them. God he hated that.” (108)

Chris is a good brother and best friend for his sister. It is because they spend

much time together since they were kids. Chris is a protective brother for Carine.

They are so close each other because they have the same point of view about their

parents who often quarrel and blame each other.

They’d been best friends from an early age, spending hours together building forts out id cushions and blankets in their Annandale living

32


room. “He was always really nice to me,” Carine says “and extremely protective. (110)

He is not anti social. He always has friends, and everybody likes them, but

he can go off and entertain himself for hours. He does not seem to need toys or

friends. He could be alone without being lonely. (107)

Chris is friendly and was not anti social. He has some close friends. He just

does not quite fit with the word ‘society’. Society which is meant by Chris is the

society includes politicians, bureaucrats, and people who do not care about people

who need to be helped such as the poor and vagrants. In this case, Chris and his

grandfather also have the same opinion about the society.

“Billie’s dad didn’t quite fit into society,” Walt explains. “In many ways he and Chris were a lot alike. (108)

During his trip to Alaska, Chris introduces himself to his new friends as

Alexander Supertramp or Alex, not as Christopher Johnson McCandless. He does

this in order to avoid being traced by his family. Chris also gets a lot of friends

during his way to Alaska. Chris’s new friends have deep impression about Chris.

It is seen from the way his new friends react and feel when Chris leaves them or

when they hear information about Chris.

When Chris hugs Borah good-bye, she says that she notice he is crying.

That frightens her. She has a bad feeling about Chris’s crying before he leaves her

for resuming the trip (69). Borah is one of new friends Chris gets during his trip to

Alaska. There are many other new friends he gets from that trip. New friends

Chris gets also give deep impression to Chris himself. It can be seen from letters

that Chris sends to them. Many of these new friends receive mails from Chris.

33


Alex took a ride from us up to Orick Beach, where we were staying, and camped with us for a week. He was a really good kid. We thought the world of him. When he left, we never expected to hear from him again, but he made a point of staying in touch. (31)

Chris usually tells his friends about his new friends and also what happens

after he leaves them in the letters that he sends them. Not few of them receive

mails from Chris more than once. It represents that Chris is a good friend even for

new friends he gets.

… A week later Westerberg received a terse card with a Montana postmark: APRIL 18. Arrive in White fish this morning on a freight train. I am making a good time. Today I will jump the border and turn north to Alaska. Give my regards to everyone.

TAKE CARE, ALEX (69-70)

The postcard Chris sends to his new friends above is one of the letters Chris

sends to his friends as the regards for them. It proves that Chris is a good friend

because he still cares about his friends who do favors for Chris during his trip. In

late November, Chris sends a postcard to Jan Burres in care of a post-office box in

California’s Imperial Valley. That card they in Niland is the first letter from him

in a long time that has a return address on it. Then, she immediately writes back

and says they will come see him the next weekend in Bullhead, which is not that

far from where they are at that time (43). It shows that Chris still cares about his

new friends he gets during the trip and vice versa.

From the analysis above, it can be concluded that Chris is smart, brave, and

has musical aptitude. He is generous and obsessed with social issues. He is

stubborn and persistent. Chris is a nature and wildlife lover. He is also a good

friend and brother.

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4.2 Chris McCandless’s Motivations in Living off the Land in Alaska

The novel Into the Wild tells about Chris McCandless’s struggles to live off

the land in Alaska. To be persistent in living off the land in Alaska, Chris has

some motivations. His motivations to be persistent in living off the land in Alaska

are influenced by his needs. According to Maslow, human motivations are

classified into hierarchy of human needs (35-46). It starts from the physiological

needs, the safety needs, the love and belongingness needs, the esteem needs, and

the self actualization needs. The lower level of needs should be at-least-partially

satisfied before going to the higher level of human needs. There are two kinds of

motivations. Worchel and Shebilske mention the two kinds of motivations,

intrinsic motivations and extrinsic motivations (408). In this novel, Chris

experiences both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. Someone’s motivation might

be influenced by the environment. Here are Christopher Johnson McCandless’s

motivations to live off the land in Alaska.

4.2.1 Having Interpersonal Conflict with His Parents

According to Redman external conflict, psychologically called interpersonal

conflict, means a struggle between the protagonist and an outside force. It happens

when the character have to face the outside forces which are not similar to the

character’s desire, belief or thinking. The different desire, belief or thinking will

create a conflict between the character and people around him (363). Raven and

Kruglanski see interpersonal conflict as tension between two or more social

35


entities, such as: individual, groups, or larger organizations, which arise from

incompatibility of actual or desired responses (qtd. in Worchel and Cooper 460).

Chris and his parents often get conflicts. It is because he often sees his

father and mother are quarreling, blaming each other and threatening to get

divorce. This horrible situation triggers him to go out from his house to have

adventures that he loves. Both Chris’s parents are tightly wound, emotional, loath

to give ground. Now and then the tension erupts in verbal sparring. In moments of

anger, one or the other often threatens divorce (107).

It’s somewhat surprising that Chris ceded to pressure from Walt and Billie about attending college when he refuse to listen to them about so many other things. (114)

Chris hates facing the situation when his parents are quarreling. The

conflicts among Chris and his parents make Chris’s safety and security needs

come out. He is unable to feel stability in his house which triggers him to leave

his house. Besides, Chris gets different belief or thinking with his father. He

doesn’t like to be seen as a rich or high profile person. This conflict happens when

his father buys Chris a new car.

… He already had a perfectly good car; he insisted: a beloved 1982 Datsun B210, slightly dented but mechanically sound, with 128,000 miles on the odometer. “I can’t believe they’d try and buy me a car,” he later complained in a letter to Carine … (20-21)

Chris has different opinion about his car. He thinks that his Datsun is perfect

and meaningful to him. Therefore, he is not happy when his father wants to buy

him a new car. The conflict between Chris’s parents about his parents’ willing to

buy Chris a new car doesn’t make Chris feel comfortable when he is in his house.

He would better go for camping or having road trips with his car.

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4.2.2 Sharing His Love to the Nature and Others

Chris is motivated to live off the land in Alaska because of his love and

belongingness needs. He loves the nature and gets excited to the wildlife.

Therefore, he often chooses to spend his holidays on going out to have road trips

for camping. He loves having some road trips and finds new friends during the

trip. He feels comfortable and excited getting new friends. In addition, it makes

him feel alive. He is disappointed with his parents who often quarreling each other

and do not provide enough time for the family because they are so busy with their

jobs.

“Mom and Dad put in incredibly hours. When Chris and I woke up in the morning to go to school, they’d be in the office working. When we came home in the afternoon, they’d be in the office working. When we went to bed in the night, they’d be in the office working. They ran a real good business together and eventually started making bunches of money, but they worked all the time.” (107)

Since Chris’s parents are so busy with their jobs, Chris can only spend the

time with Carine all day long. He feels left by the people he loves as Maslow says

that when someone feels left by the people he or she loves they experiences the

love and belongingness needs (43). Thus, by having the road trip to Alaska and

living off there make him enjoys his life. He can forget being left by his parents

for a while. It is because he finds new friends which he can share the love to them.

He cares about his new friends he gets during the trip to Alaska. It is seen from

the letter that they receive from Chris. This proves that Chris is happy having new

friends during the trip and wants to keep in touch with them.

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Chris is a generous person. He is very eager to help people. Worchel and

Shebilske say that the behaviour which is done by one’s eagerness is called

intrinsic motivation (408). He is motivated to help people because he feels being

meaningful for others if he can do something to them. Before going to Alaska,

Chris donates all his money in his college fund to OXFAM America. He wants to

share happiness to others. It represents that Chris loves sharing his love for

others.The final years of his college education has been paid for with forty-

thousand-dollar bequest left by a friend of the family’s; more than twenty four

thousand dollars remains at the time of Chris’s graduation, money that his parents

thought he intended to use for law school. What Walt, Billie, and Carine does not

know when they fly down to Atlanta to attend Chris’s commencement–what

nobody knows–was that he would shortly donate all the money in his college fund

to OXFAM America, a charity dedicated to fighting hunger (20).

Because of the love needs, Chris loves helping people so much. On the

weekends, he often spends his money to buy food for the poor, brings home a

vagrant, or chatting with pimps and hookers, and gives them suggestions that they

can make their lives better. He does those activities because he does not get

enough love and time from his parents because of his parents business. He does

not want people gets hungry. He helps people without any expectation to get a

reward. According to Maslow, human motivations are classified into hierarchy of

human needs (35-46). Food and water is the basic needs of human and it is

included in the physiological needs (35). This is the reason why Chris decides to

donates his money to OXFAM America, which is dedicated to fighting hunger.

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4.2.3 Showing His Ability as a Good Adventurer

Chris wants to live off the land because he wants to show his ability to stay

in the wildlife by his own. He wants to prove that he could get through pass it

without being alone in Alaska. He wants to have the long trip and adventure to

Alaska.

Being persistent at living off the land in Alaska is also influenced by his

esteem needs. Going for camping and living near the wildlife has become his

favorite things to do for Chris, and he thinks is capable to do it. According to

Maslow, the satisfaction of self esteem needs leads to feelings of self confidence,

worth, strength, capability, and adequacy of being useful and necessary in the

world (45). Chris experiences it while doing his road trips and living attached to

the nature. Chris’s success in doing his road trips before doing the trip to Alaska

also influences him being so confident. Near the end of the trip before going to

Alaska, Chris has got lost in the Mojave Desert and has nearly succumbed to

dehydration. His parents are extremely alarmed when they hear about this brush

disaster but they are unsure how to persuade Chris to exercise more caution in the

future. “Chris was good at almost everything he ever tried,” Walt reflects, “which

made him supremely confident. If you attempted to talk him out of something, he

wouldn’t argue. He’d just nod politely and then do exactly what he wanted (118).

He is confidently doing his trips to Alaska without any doubts. When he finds

trouble, he builds his spirit in keep struggling to live off the land in Alaska. He

also likes telling the story about his trips to the new friends he gets.

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… “He used to sit here at the end of the bar and tell us these amazing stories of his travels. He could talk for hours. A lot of folks here in town got pretty attached to old Alex. … (16)

His confidence can also be seen from the leather belt that he made which

tells his trip to Alaska. An accomplished leatherworker, Franz teaches Alex the

secrets of his craft; for his project McCandless produces a tooled leather belt, on

which he creates an artful pictorial record of his wanderings. ALEX is inscribed at

the belt left end; then the initials C.J.M (for Christopher Johnson McCandless)

frame a skull and crossbones. Across the strip of cowhide one sees a rendering of

a two-lane blacktop, a NO-TURN sign, a thunderstorm producing a flashflood

that engulf a car, a hitchhiker’s thumb, an eagle the Sierra Nevada, salmon

cavorting in the Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Coast Highway from Oregon to

Washington, the Rocky Mountains, Montana wheat fields, a South Dakota rattle

snake, Westerberg’s house in Carthage, the Colorado River, gale in the Gulf of

California, a canoe beached beside a tent, Las Vegas, the initials T.C.D., Morro

Bay, Astoria, and at the buckle end, finally, the letter N (presumably representing

north). Executed with remarkable skill and creativity, this belt astonishing as any

artifact Chris McCandless left behind (53).

On the belt, it pictures that Chris finds many troubles but there is a NO U-

TURN sign. The NO U-TURN sign represents that he has big confidence to keep

continuing his trip to Alaska. The belt that he makes by carving the pictures of his

trip also shows that he wants to show his ability of being a master of his trip to

Alaska.

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4.2.4 Having New Experiences

In the new places, Chris can show that he is able to do many kinds of tasks

and works. He works hard for Westerberg, carves leather with Franz, and works at

McDonald. He wants to do something useful for others in new places with new

people. The new places make him eager to know the surroundings and experience

new things.

… Alex struck me as much older than twenty four. Everything I said, he’d demand to know more about what I meant, about why I thought this way or that. He was hungry to learn about things. (68)

He feels excited and challenged to live off the land in Alaska. Since he was

a kid he often goes to new places for him. Chris comes to Alaska to live off the

land. Instead, he gets many experiences and friends during his trip as well. That is

why he ever gets lost in the Mojave Desert. He has planned to live alone in Alaska

since he is young. He is influenced by the books he read about nature and its

wildlife. His hunger of adventuring new places makes him persistent in keeping

living off the land in Alaska.

4.2.5 Realizing His Dream of Wildlife

Chris is persistent in living off the land in Alaska because of his intrinsic

motivation to realize his dream of wildlife. According to Worchel and Shebilske,

the intrinsic motivation is done when people do actions which are derived from

the enjoyment and satisfaction (408). He enjoys a lot doing the trip to Alaska and

lives off there by himself. He wants to live in the peaceful place and does exactly

he wants to do without any interfering of others in Alaska. He wants to be free in

41


doing anything in Alaska. It is because he does not like being told by someone

else.

Since he is a kid, Chris is always interested in anything related to the nature

and wildlife. He reads many books related to it. Thus, the books influence him

much to live in the wilderness of the nature and form what his destination or goal.

Mesmerized with London’s turgid portrayal of life in Alaska and the Yukon, McCandless read and reread The Call of the Wild, White Fang, “To Build a Fire,” “An Odyssey of the North,” “The Wit of Porportuk.” (45) He also admires his grandparents who lives attached to the nature and

wildlife. Chris loves to go out for camping or having road trips. Alaska is the most

valuable place for many adventurers. Many books Chris reads and rereads tells

about the story of adventures in Alaska. In Alaska, there is also Mount McKinley,

which becomes an icon place of American wilderness. Therefore, Chris is very

motivated to live there.

McCandless was candid by Stuckey about his intent to spend the summer alone, in the bush, living off the land. “He said it was something he’d wanted to do since he was little,” says Stuckey. (158)

Chris is also motivated by his self actualization needs. Living off the land in

Alaska is the great satisfaction for an adventurer and hitchhiker like Chris, thus he

extremely wants to live off the land in Alaska. Maslow says, “What man can be.

He must be. He must be true to his own nature (46).” It is synchronous with

Chris’s interests and behaviours as an adventurer or hitchhiker. He does living

near the wilderness of the nature well and he chooses to do it.

He had a need test himself in ways, as he was fond of saying, “that mattered.” He possessed grand–some would say grandiose–spiritual ambitions. (181)

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From the statement above, it can be concluded that Chris McCandless is

also obsessed with ambitions to live entirely off the country. By living off the

land, he can satisfy his last need of his life. He is able to actualize the self

actualization needs by doing the road trips. He can avoid having bad feelings,

inferior, and powerlessness. In addition, the final destination of his interests and

the goal is living off the country in Alaska alone. This is the reason why he is

persistent in struggling living off the land in Alaska.

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CHAPTER V

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

This chapter consists of two sections, namely conclusions and suggestions.

The conclusions concern the answers of the questions stated in the problem

formulation. The suggestions contain suggestions for future researchers and

recommendation for English teaching and learning processes through the novel

Into the Wild.

5.1 Conclusions

There are two main points that can be concluded from the analysis. They are

how Chris is described in the novel and Chris’s motivations in living off the land

in Alaska. Based on the analysis, it can be said that Christopher Johnson

McCandless or Chris is the major character in the story. He becomes the focus of

the story. It can be seen from his role in the story. Chris plays significant role in

the novel since this based on true story novel tells about Chris’s trips to Alaska.

Chris appears from the beginning until the end of this novel. Therefore, it can be

concluded that Chris is the major character of the story.

Chris is also a round character. It is difficult to describe him in a single

phrase or word. He has his own way of thinking which is different from common

people and has his own way to see world from his point of view.

Chris is a young man who is attracted by the nature and wildlife so much.

He often sees his parents quarreling and threatening to get divorce each other. He

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is smart, brave, having musical aptitude, generous and obsessed with social issues,

stubborn, being a nature and wildlife lover, and also a good brother and friend.

Chris likes reading many books related to the nature and wildlife. He gets

home good grades; even he gets the Cum Laude. It shows that he is smart. Chris is

brave enough to be in the darkness and to live near the wildlife alone without

being lonely. He often spends solo road trips in the summer holidays alone. He

has musical aptitude since his early age. He plays French horn and piano. He gets

some musical rivalry with his sister but it does not damage their relationship.

Chris loves helping people. He tries to figure out why some people have

problems with race. He often spends his weekends down the streets, buying the

poor meals, chatting with pimps and hookers, and bringing home vagrants without

differentiating who they are. This fact shows that Chris is generous and obsessed

with social issues.

He is also a stubborn boy. He does not like to do something that makes him

bored and uncomfortable. He does not want to do something under pressure or to

be told about what to do by someone else. If he likes to do something, he wants to

do it by his own way. He loves everything about nature and wildlife. He admires

his grandfather who lives near the wildlife and nature so much. Chris reads and

rereads many books related to wildlife and nature. He likes doing road trips and

living off the lands. It represents that he is a nature and wildlife lover.

Carine and Chris are best friends since they are kids. Chris always has

friends. He gets new friends during his trips to Alaska. Chris leaves deep

45


impression to his new friends and Chris still keeps in touch with them. It proves

that Chris is also a good brother and friend.

Other conclusions to draw related to the second problem, are his

motivations. Chris experiences both extrinsic and intrinsic motivations. His

motivations are based on his needs. Since Chris comes from rich family, he does

not get much trouble in fulfilling his basic needs that is physiological needs. He

can get abundant food and drinks using his money. Since he can not feel stability

in his house because of his parents’ often get quarreling, his safety and security

needs emerge. He tries to find the place where he thinks he can find the stability.

Thus, he needs to satisfy his safety and security needs. Then, he needs to fulfill

higher needs after he can satisfy his safety and security needs. The higher needs

Chris tries to fulfill are the love and belongingness needs, the esteem needs and

the self actualization needs.

Chris needs to fulfill the love and belongingness needs because of having

interpersonal conflict with his parents. He can not have enough love from their

parents and much time to spend with them. Chris experiences it because his

parents are very busy with their jobs. Moreover they often gets quarreling and

threatening to divorce each other. Therefore he is motivated to share his love to

the nature and others. By sharing his love to the nature and others, his love and

belongingness needs can be fulfilled. When the love and belongingness need is

satisfied, Chris walks one step forward to get the next need, which is the self-

esteem need. He wants to show his ability who can be great adventurer and

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hitchhiker. He is always successful in doing his previous trips before going to

Alaska. Furthermore, he can tell about his road trips to new friends he meets.

By doing the road trips to Alaska, Chris can come to new places, meets new

friends, and learns more about wildlife. He feels excited experiencing new things.

It means that he wants to have new experiences by having road trips and living off

the land in Alaska which is also influenced by his self-esteem needs.

Chris is always attracted by the nature and wildlife. He dreams to live off

the land in Alaska. His self actualization need influences Chris to live off the land

in Alaska. By doing road trips and living of the land in Alaska, he can do what he

can do and he can avoid having bad feelings, inferior and powerlessness. He

wants to attain his dream and obsession by living off the land in Alaska. Living

off the land in Alaska is his success as an adventurer and hitchhiker.

5.2 Suggestions

This section consists of two parts. The first is suggestion for future

researchers. The second is suggestion for teaching-learning activities using Jon

Krakauer’s Into the Wild.

5.2.1 Suggestion for Future Researchers

Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild is an interesting novel to read and analyze

because it is based on a true story of an adventurer and hitchhiker’s life. It tells

about the major character’s trip to Alaska and how he struggles to attain his

dream.

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This study focuses on the major character of the story, Christopher Johnson

McCandless, how he is described in the novel, and his motivations in living off

the land in Alaska. This study opens opportunities for other researchers to conduct

further analysis in the future. Other researchers may conduct studies on Chris’s

interpersonal conflicts. They may also explore more about the influence of his

parents on Chris’s personality development.

5.2.2 Suggestion for Teaching-Learning Activities

Literary works such as novels, dramas and short stories portray human life

experiences. Literary works are not only to gain pleasure or spend leisure time.

Through literary works, we can enrich our knowledge about human life and

improve the English skills. A novel also portrays human values such as moral

values, social norms or certain customs which readers can learn. Thus, a literary

work can be used as the material source of teaching-learning activities. In the

implementation of teaching learning activities, I focus on reading. The further

explanations are presented as the following.

Reading is one of language skills that students have to master. The students

should have some experiences reading activities to broaden their knowledge of the

language. A material can give stimulus to students to participate the activities

actively. Therefore, the reading material should be interesting for the students.

Jon Krakauer’s novel Into the Wild is suitable to use as the material in a

reading class. Comprehension is important in reading activities. In order to

encourage students to get the reading comprehension, I will give some procedures

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that can be used by teachers to teach reading. The meeting will be conducted in

100 minutes. The procedures of the reading activities I suggest are:

1. The teacher selects part of the novel, Into The Wild.

2. The teacher discusses the topic briefly with the students.

3. The teacher distributes the reading material to the students.

4. The teacher asks the students to read the material.

5. The teacher asks the students to define the meaning of the unfamiliar

words.

6. The teacher asks the students to answer the questions.

7. The teacher and the students discuss the answers to the questions.

8. The teacher asks the students to summarize the story with their own words

to be submitted.

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REFERENCES

Abrams, M. H. 1993. A Glossary of Literary Terms (6th edition). New York: Holt, Rhinehart, and Winston, Inc.

Barnet, Berman, Burto. 1988. Literature for Composition: Essays, Fiction, Poetry

and Drama. Boston: Brown College Division. Bootzin, R. et. al. 1983. Psychology Today: An Introduction (3rd edition). New

York: Random House. Forsters, E. M. 1974. Aspects of the Novel. London: William Clowes & Sons Ltd. Goble, Frank G. 1970. The Third Force: The Psychology of Abraham Maslow.

New York: Grossman Publishers, Inc. Holman, C. 1986. Hugh and William Harmon. A Handbook to Literature (5th

edition). New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. Krakauer, Jon. 2007. Into The Wild. London: Pan Macmillan, Ltd. Lynch, Deisdre and William B. Warner. 1996. Cultural Institution of the Novel.

London: Duke University Press. Maslow, Abraham H. 1970. Motivation and Personality. New York: Harper &

Row Publisher. Milligan, Ian. 1983. The Novel in English: An Introduction. London: The

Macmillan Press, Ltd. Murphy, M. J. 1972. Understanding Unseens: An Introduction to English Poetry

and the English Novel for Overseas Students. London: George Allen & Unwin, Ltd

Procter, Paul. 2001. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. Essex:

Pearson Education Ltd. Redman, 1964. Crosby E. A Second Book of Plays. New York: The Macmillan

Company. Rohrberger, Mary and Samuel H. Woods. 1971. Reading and Writing about

Literature. New York: Random House, Inc.

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Stanton, Robert. 1965. An Introduction to Fiction. New York: Holt, Reinhart and Wiston, Inc.

Worchel, Stephen, and Wayne Shebilske. 1989. Psychology: Principles and Applications (3rd edition). New York: Prentice Hall, Inc.

Online Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_McCandless Accessed on Friday, Accessed on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 8.00 p.m.

http://www.bookbrowse.com/biographies/index.cfm?author_number=123 Accessed on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 8.00 p.m.

http://www.bookbrowse.com/reader_reviews/index.cfm?book_number=191&start_id=13&order=dt&view=long Accessed on Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 11.00 p.m.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/north-america/usa/alaska/ Accessed on Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 11.00 p.m.

http://www.bookrags.com/highbeam/penns-haunting-journey-into-the-hb/ Accessed on Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 11.00 p.m.

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APPENDICES


Appendix 1

SUMMARY

INTO THE WILD

Chris McCandless is a young man who hitchhikes to Alaska, walks alone

and lives off the land there. He is from a rich and well-educated family. Chris is

the son of Samuel Walter McCandless, NASA’s project manager with his wife

from the second marriage. His parents are so busy with their jobs. They often get

quarreling and threaten to get divorce each other. It makes him so close with

Carine, his younger sister. It also makes him feels uncomfortable in his house.

Chris is a smart boy. He gets Cum Laude when he graduates from Emory

University. After graduating from Emory University in Atlanta in May 1990, he

donates twenty four thousand dollars which is the money remained in his college

fund to OXFAM America, a charity dedicated to fighting hunger. He is obsessed

by social issues. He is also obsessed by the wildlife. He admires his grandfather,

Loren Johnson who lives near the nature. After graduating from Emory University

in Atlanta in May 1990, he donates twenty four thousand dollars which is the

money remained in his college fund to OXFAM America, a charity dedicated to

fighting hunger. Then, he decides to go to Alaska. He drives to Alaska using his

beloved old car. He drives his car until his car is stuck by the flashflood. He puts

his plate of his car off in order not to be traced by his parents. After that, he

hitchhikes and walks on his feet continuing his trip to Alaska.

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He comes to new places in which he finds new friends. They are Wayne

Westerberg, Jim Galiien, Jan Burres, Ronald Franz, and many others. They help

Chris by driving him getting nearer to Alaska. Chris often stays with them and

lives with them for some days. He helps Wayne on the farm, makes carves for

Ronald Franz and does other activities as his appreciation to them for their helps.

He leaves deep impression to his new friends. He often sends his new friends

letters to tell his trips and his experiences after leaving them.

During the trips, he finds many troubles. He lost the canoe because of the

strong wind, he gets caught by the officer while hopping in the train, he gets

difficulties in getting the drive, and many other problems he gets. Although he

finds those difficulties, he is still motivated to go to Alaska, to reach what he

dreams of, that is to live off the land there alone.

Finally, after his two-year trips to Alaska, he arrives in Alaska. He finds a

bus parked on the bank of the river which he calls it the magic bus. He sets it as

his house. He begins his hunting game and collecting berries to get food. He

brings a book, “Tanaina Plantlore” which tells about edible plants to eat. He

writes journals telling his activities day by day. He collects berries and shoots

moose, squirrels, birds, and other small animals to eat. One day, he shoots a

caribou and tries to smoke it with the fire he makes in order to preserve it.

Nevertheless, he fails to preserve it. He gets frustrated because he kills a big

animal. On another day, he collects berries and some plants to eat. He finds and

eats Hedysarum mackenzii or wild sweet pea which is so difficult to distinguish

from Hedysarum alpinum or wild potato, even for expert botanists. The wild

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sweet pea is poisonous. Chris starts to dig and eat this plant on June 24, 1992,

apparently without ill effect. On July 14, 1992, he begins consuming the pea like

seed pods of the plants as well, probably because the roots are becoming too tough

to eat. According to “Tanaina Plantlore”, it says nothing about the seeds of the

species being edible; it also says nothing about the seeds being toxic. After

consuming the wild sweet pea seeds, Chris gets poisoned. He gets weak and

finally finds his death after living off the land in Alaska for 113 days.

Adapted from Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

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Appendix 2

BIOGRAPHY OF JON KRAKAUER

Jon Krakauer is the author of Eiger Dreams, Into the Wild, and Into Thin Air and is editor of the Modern Library Exploration series. Born in 1954, he grew up in Corvallis, Oregon, where his father introduced him to mountaineering as an 8-year-old. After graduating from Hampshire College in 1976, Krakauer divided his time between Colorado, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest, earning his living primarily as a carpenter and commercial salmon fisherman, spending most of his free moments in the mountains. In 1977 he traveled alone to the remote Stikine Icecap in Southeast Alaska, went three weeks without encountering another person, and climbed a new route on a graceful, intimidating peak called the Devil's Thumb. In 1992 he climbed the West Face of Cerro Torre in the Patagonian Andes (a mile-high spike of granite sheathed in a carapace of frozen rime, Cerro Torre was once considered the most difficult mountain on earth. In May 1996 Krakauer reached the top of Mt. Everest, but during the descent a storm engulfed the peak, taking the lives of four of the five teammates who climbed to the summit with him. An analysis of the calamity that he wrote for Outside magazine received a National Magazine Award. The unsparingly honest book he subsequently wrote about Everest, Into Thin Air, became a #1 New York Times bestseller and has been translated into 24 languages. It was also honored as the "Book of the Year" by Time magazine, one of the "Best Books of the Year" by the New York Times Book Review, a finalist for a 1997 National Book Critics Circle Award, and one of three finalists for the 1998 Pulitzer Prize in General Non-Fiction. For the past two decades Krakauer's writing has been published in the likes of Outside, GEO, Architectural Digest, Rolling Stone, Time, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and National Geographic. An article he wrote for Smithsonian about vulcanology received the 1997 Walter Sullivan Award for Excellence in Science Journalism from the American Geophysical Union. His 1996 book, Into The Wild--about an idealistic young man named Chris McCandless who perished in the Alaskan bush--spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list. This followed the

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publication of two books by Krakauer in 1990: Eiger Dreams, a collection of his mountaineering essays, and Iceland: Land of the Sagas,a book of his photographs.

In 1998 Krakauer established the Everest '96 Memorial Fund at the Boulder Community Foundation, endowing it with royalties from Into Thin Air. Created as a tribute to his companions lost on Everest, the fund provides humanitarian aid to the indigenous peoples of the Himalaya and supports organizations working to preserve the natural environment throughout the world. Krakauer also serves on the boards of the American Himalayan Foundation and the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation.

In 1999 Krakauer received an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters--a prestigious award intended "to honor writers of exceptional accomplishment." According to the Academy's citation, "Krakauer combines the tenacity and courage of the finest tradition of investigative journalism with the stylish subtlety and profound insight of the born writer. His account of an ascent of Mount Everest has led to a general reevaluation of climbing and of the commercialization of what was once a romantic, solitary sport; while his account of the life and death of Christopher McCandless, who died of starvation after challenging the Alaskan wilderness, delves even more deeply and disturbingly into the fascination of nature and the devastating effects of its lure on a young and curious mind."

Krakauer's latest book, which he has spent the last four years researching and writing, is Under The Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, published by Doubleday in July 2003. As a child in Oregon, many of the author's playmates, teachers, and athletic coaches were Latter-day Saints. Although he envied the unfluctuating certainty of the faith professed so enthusiastically by these Mormon friends and acquaintances, he was often baffled by it, and has sought to comprehend the formidable power of such belief ever since. The upshot of this lifelong quest is Under The Banner of Heaven, in which Krakauer examines the nature of religious passion through the lens of Mormon Fundamentalism.

Adapted from: http://www.bookbrowse.com/biographies/index.cfm?author_number=123

Accessed on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 8.00 p.m.

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Appendix 3

MAP OF ALASKA

Taken from: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/north-america/usa/alaska/ Accessed on Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 11.00 p.m.

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Appendix 4

LESSON PLAN

Subject : Extensive Reading II

Class : 4th Semester of English Language

Education Study Program

Material : Into The Wild page 186 - 198

Time Allocation : 2 x 50 minutes

Basic Competencies

Achievement Indicators

Learning Experiences

Time Allotment

Form of Evaluation

Reading Comprehending the content of the text.

- Reading the passage. - Defining the meaning of the unfamiliar words from the reading passage. - Answering the questions about the reading passage given by the teacher. - Summarizing the story on their own words.

- The students read the passage. - The students define the meaning of the unfamiliar words from the reading passage. - The students answer the comprehensive questions about the reading passage given by the teacher. - The students summarize the story with their own words.

20’

20’

30’

30’

Written

Written

Written

Source:

Krakauer, Jon. 2007. Into The Wild. London: Pan Macmillan, Ltd.

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Appendix 5

MATERIAL

I. Define the meaning of the words below based on the context of the passage.

• Munificence ( Page 187, line 20)

• Sabbatical ( Page 188, line 19)

• Delicate ( Page 190, line 7)

• Distinguishing ( Page 190, line 21)

• Gathering (Page 191, line 35)

• Edible (Page 192, line 8)

II. Read the passage that is taken from Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild then

answer these following questions.

• What does the passage talk about?

• How does McCandless get food in Alaska?

• What is the book McCandless brings to help him to get the information of

the edible plants? Who is the author of the book?

• What is/are the cause(s) of McCandless’s death?

• How to differentiate wild potato and wild sweet pea? Which one is the

poisonous species?

• What might Chris (physiological and psychological) feel after being

poisoned by the plant according to the text?

III. Summarize the story from the passage!

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