Zahra Alsaleh

Name: Zahra Alsaleh.

Institution: Julia Intawiwat
Subject: UWRT 1102-039
Date: 3/28/2016

Step4:AnnotatedListofWorksCited

Krakauer, Jon. Into the wild. Anchor, 2009.

John Krakaure demystifies the life and death of Chris McCandless an American
adventurer who left the comfort of his home and comfort of his family to explore
parts of parts of North America. The Book Portray McCandless as a hero. The
book is also shrouded with compassion for the young sojourner whose innocence
would latter by claimed by wild lands of the west in an abandoned Bus. The book
gives insight on MacCandless life and death.
Happiness is a topic that tolerates conspicuity, and different people perceive it in a
manner that suits their situations. Humans are gregarious in nature, and the quality
of life is supposedly better while staying with family but is not the case for
everyone. Famous people like McCandless lived in solitude but was able to derive
happiness out of it; if happiness mattered to him. The US constitution gives
happiness a special place and possible terms of its definition in the Bill of right
(Krakauer, 1993. 4). Every American citizen has a right to the pursuit of
happiness. The pursuit of happiness as the forefathers contextualized means the
freedom to accumulate wealth and peruse whatever thing that has been made legal

Zahra Alsaleh

by the law if that is what makes the subject person happy. Some people associate
happiness with material possession, personal achievements, with their families.
Christopher McCandless has done much for happiness by making a mystery out
of it. He sacrifices so much in the name of freedom only to conclude in the end
that happiness to be meaningful has to be shared (Krakauer, 2009. 48)
McCandless hoped to live simply and traveled places that were isolated motivated
by what Krakauer terms as freedom of spirit (Krakauer, 1996. 8). Reflecting on
my situation and that of McCandless, I will explore the correlation between
family and happiness.
Krauker demystifies the life of Chris McCandless, an American adventurer who
left the comfort of his home and comfort of his family to explore parts of parts of
North America. The Book Portray McCandless as a hero. The book is also
shrouded with compassion for the young sojourner whose innocence would be
latter by claimed by wild lands of the West in an abandoned Bus. The book gives
insight on MacCandless life and death. McCandless traveled throughout North
America living in the barest of resources and most occasions off the safety of the
land. The traveler has had relative descriptions from different authors; he was
suicidal, psychopathic or had hidden motives that meant a lot to other than his
very existence. It is difficult to speculate what McCandless felt while he remained
in solitude.
Krakauer, Jon. "Death of an Innocent: How Christopher McCandless lost his way in the wilds."
Outside Magazine Jan (1993).

Zahra Alsaleh

This is famous by Krakauer about the life and death of Chris McCandless. The
book gives the possible cause of McCandless death citing his irrationality and
wild obsession with the life of his predecessor London who explored the North
Pole. Much of McCandless character and thought can be deduced from this
journal. Krakauer prior to McCandless death had interview him and he is better
placed to discuss matters pertaining McCandless journeys and death.
Sherry Simpson describes her trip to the Magic Bush as they call the abandoned
bus and notes that tourist who left comments on the bus described McCandless as
insightful (Krakauer, 1993. 3). There is no piece of literature that described
McCandless' mood, but comments made by his fans could help deduce it as
fulfilling.
It is illogical to compare my move to leave my family and come to America with
McCandless epic but dangerous journeys. The attachment to a family has its part
to play in living a happy and fulfilling life, but there are other things that do
matter like personal achievements and fame. Such drivers and motivations call for
sacrifices like staying away from family which I honestly dont think it is such a
big sacrifice compared to what will come from moving to America to study.
McCandless story has romanticized and has become an imagery of escaping from
responsibilities that make us footless (). McCandless ignored the benefits of
London and sought personal transcendence in the lonely lands of West America.
He made friendships which seemed not to abate his obsession with classics and
pursuit of freedom. The sojourner must have probably given more to the literature
world that to him. He comes to what seemed like an epiphany that happiness can

Zahra Alsaleh

be fought for and guarded jealously but makes no meaning when not shared ().
Unfortunately, for him, he never got the chance to live his life differently probably
with friends and family.
Powels, Barbette. Work, family, and happiness: essays on interdependencies within families, life
events, and time allocation decisions. Utrecht University, 2011.
This journal Pouwels describes the correlation between family and happiness. The
findings of this inquiry construes that people are happy when they are close to
their families and time for work are decided based on the needs of the family not
the resource (money) required
The life and premature death of McCandless took the media by storm and earned
him heroic status although he was gone. It hard imagines how his wild endeavors
would have made anyone happy including himself. Responsibilities that bind us to
our family may be the source of happiness if perceived that way. The initial
McCandless idea of trying to achieve happiness by escaping from responsibilities
was mistaken as he later notices it (Krakauer, 1993. 4)
The death of an innocent describes McCandless as a modern day Sojourner who
ironically sought inspiration from authors and family he ran from (Krakauer 1993.
3). The circumstances surrounding his death are not clear but are eminent; he
never found the happiness he was searching.
As construed by Pouwels, Babette, there is a significant interdependence among
family members (Powel and Barbette, 2011. 17). The happiness of one member of
the family is dependent other family members and staying away from family
member affects one's happiness as well. The degree in which the absents of family

Zahra Alsaleh

members affect one's happiness is relative and will affect different people
differently. Having other motivators of staying away from the family will reduce
effects of being away on happiness. As much as events and interaction by family
members do not always lead to happiness; there are more happy moments when
with family no matter the state. My stay in America is a mixture of happiness and
sad moments especially when bad news comes from home. I spend much time
explaining to my younger siblings that what I am doing here is good for everyone
except that I need to be away. They easily conceive my stay here as escapism
which at some point I feel they are right, and I am being selfish. Imagining the
troubles they have to bear back at takes saddens me and the comfort of my hostel
residence and become meaningless. Being with family may not seem that
meaningful but staying away from them invites series of unhealthy thoughts that
lead to sadness.
Hanssen, Caroline. "" You Were Right, Old Hoss; You Were Right": Jack London in Jon
Krakauer's Into the Wild." American Literary Realism 43.3 (2011): 191-197.
This journal reviews Kraukers work on Chris McCandless story. London is
European adventurer whom McCandless was passionate. The journal draws how
the story by Krauker closely relates to widely anthologized epic journey of
London in the arctic region.
The story McCandless as it is anthologized today closely resemble to build a
fire by London Jack. The text was allegedly read by the subject sojourner and
developed a strong passion for London, who like him wondered in the dangerous
north arctic ice blocks (London, 2011. 44). The desire to experience life in its

Zahra Alsaleh

extreme possibilities is done for legacy at the expense of happiness. Making the
fir, white Fung and the call of the wild never at any point described the life of the
hikers as happy (Hanssen &&Caroline, 2010. 92). It is, therefore, evident that
happiness was given up by these hikes to peruse other things that mattered to
them. It is imperative to note that the hikers hoped to return to their families in a
heroic manner and things, unfortunately, dont work their way. Some life
activities can be compared to that of a soldier where he sacrifices his happiness
and some instances for the greater good of his nation and family. Since I came
to the US, I have been struggling between reuniting with my family sooner or
staying and read and even get a job here. Without much doubt, the family is
central to happiness and families should stick together.
Family foster happiness in the lives of its members through the material and
social support. Economic aspects of life as construed by North et. al, is closely
correlated with happiness (North, et al.). Families with a steady flow of
considerable income are happier than. This correlation means that when
dependents in the family can access financial support, they are happier, and those
offering support is also more gleeful to afford to care for their kin. Although there
is a significant correlation between happiness and financial status, social support
impact on ones happiness more. With the change of income, North et al. did not
note a considerable change in happiness and financial assistance does impact but
minimally on happiness. People belonging to the same family closely identify
with each other a strong bond binds them a together. There is a great sense of
belonging when cohabiting with family members.

Zahra Alsaleh

In some instances, I have personally felt obligated to give away some privileges to
the citizen of the Unites States without no good reason but the feeling of being in
someone elses country. In a foreign country away from family, doubts and fear
haunt one to a self-destruction level. The family is the people you understand and
appreciate you; they trust each other, and each one is confident of the other.
Very strong correlation has also been seen between happiness and working hours.
People who work close to their families are happier. Saving time to be with family
is important for employee motivation and wellbeing. As much as the family plays
a central part in happiness, other critical aspects of life determine a person level of
happiness like job satisfaction and accomplishments. Especially the living a
meaningful life and living a happy occasionally overlap, but there are
fundamentally different. To live a meaningful life sometimes requires that
happiness especially the comfort of the family be foregone. Pursuits of happiness
may not be a happy endeavor but end is the motivator. When someone has already
achieved their desires, they will live a meaningful life and at the same time be
happy.
Satisfying ones need increases one's happiness and meaningfulness of life to some
degree. If needs as seen as both material and non-material elements like selfactualization, satisfying such needs will make life meaningful. The
meaningfulness of life is quite complicated considering the fact that it is more of a
giver than a taker. People whom mindfulness of life to them care about how they
impact other people rather how they receive help from other people. In
considering the story McCandless, his endeavors never focused on helping

Zahra Alsaleh

anyone at even himself as des cribbed by Krakauer in his outside Magazine

journal The Death of an Innocent. Contrary to a typical social behavior,
McCandless sacrificed too much for something inconceivable. He foregone
happiness and became a slave to Londons story and probably earned nothing
from it.
It frankly is said McCandless lived a credible and meaningful life by making an
epic story for literates and losing himself while at it. It is not clear to what end
McCandless what risking all for. If it was for fame and status that his predecessors
achieved, well he did quite fine but just didnt live long enough to enjoy it.
Achieving something you have worked hard for like a degree also increases
happiness. Life achievement compensates for the horror of staying away from
family. Without family around, it is possible to be happy if to be around them.
Other things matter like self-actualization and economic progress. As much
finances and personal dreams matter, nothing can replace social support offered
by families and it will be needed in some way. Supporting other people especially
family also increases the level of happiness. To have a meaningful relationship
with people with people we first have to be around them. People like London and
McCandless chose to live the company of other people who would in some way
make them happy and takes on a solitary life in dangerous places for reasons that
go beyond the pursuit of happiness.
London, Jack. The Call of the Wild; White Fang; & To Build a Fire. New York: Modern Library,
1998. Print.

Zahra Alsaleh

The call of the wild describes the epic journeys of hiker into the wilderness of
Northern arctic. Much emphasis is given to London whom MacCandless
developed a fears passion for. The hiker spent time away from home in most
occasions into the dangerous sea ice.
While at my endeavors; studying in a foreign nation, I have a good feeling despite
the fact that I am not always happy owing to the fact that I am preparing myself
for a good future with my family. There is something unique about being around
family; a sense of belonging and confidence. Family can bail you out of trouble
without credit and it where you everyone feels warm and safe. The family is the
backbone of happiness, but other motivators exist. Personal perception and
interpersonally also matter in living a happy life. This is famous by Krakauer
about the life and death of Chris McCandless. Krauker in his journal investigates
possible cause of McCandless death citing his irrationality and wild obsession
with the life of his predecessor London who explored the North Pole. Much of
McCandless character and thought can be deduced from his journal. Krauker has
captured a lot of interests concerning McCandless life and death and however he
describes him, someone will believe.
Investigating correlation between psychological capital performance while
identifying work-family spillover as a mediator of psychological capital
performance and construes that psychological well-being (from family spillover)
mediates capital performance (Polatc, Sema, and Asuman Akdoan, 2014. 1). The
implication of Politic and Asumans Findings put family spillover at the center of
human resource management. It is the prominent family has a lot to with personal

Zahra Alsaleh

wellbeing both in work line and personal endeavors. It, therefore, imperative that
more inquiry is made on how family affects persons performance, activity, and
happiness.
Family significantly role in determining a persons happiness but some people
prefer other motivators to live. Happiness comes from within, and one can be
happy without family around as long as he is coexisting harmoniously with
others. Other things motivate persons that chose solitude lives. As reported by her
sister, MacCandless was determined to stay away from his parents and sibling
despite the love and respect he had for them. His hiking activities so much to do
with him than his family. Contrary to the expectation of many, MacCandless
draws from his experience that love is only meaningful when shared. After
staying away from civilization for a long time, the solitude that the sojourner turns
tragic and the world is left to translate his findings.
Experience is the best teacher; comment for someone living a solitary life by
chose means a lot. Although most of us feel to have sacrificed happiness for
another motive, nothing that I have experience can be compared to MacCandless
gave up. Staying away from family is a reasonable sacrifice that significantly
affects the level of happiness. Matters o personality will also play a critical role
while deterring the degree in which staying away from family affect happiness.
The family is an exceptional source of happiness but can also be the reason for
sadness. People with poor connection with family may choose to stay away, and
that in reverse make them happy.

Zahra Alsaleh

MacCandless has been described as insightful although whatever ran through his
mind when alone remains a mystery. He has a complex character with a highly
motivated personality. He valued family and friends but yet he chose a solitary
life. From the interview with family and loved ones, MacCandless was in good
standing with everyone and was inspired by a traveler named London (Hanssen,
Caroline, 2011 193). To understand how a good family was important he chose to
stay away from family. He latter insists on the need to share happiness with others
is the only true happiness can be found. By experience, MacCandless tested
himself to the limit living neither from barely sufficient resources exposing him to
rest of whether and the wild nor than parts. He could live without family, but he
was not happy.

Zahra Alsaleh

Works Cited
Hanssen, Caroline. "" You Were Right, Old Hoss; You Were Right": Jack London in Jon
Krakauer's Into the Wild." American Literary Realism 43.3 (2011): 191-197.
Krakauer, Jon. "Death of an Innocent: How Christopher McCandless lost his way in the wilds."
Outside Magazine Jan (1993).
Krakauer, Jon. Into the wild. Anchor, 2009.
London, Jack. The Call of the Wild; White Fang; & To Build a Fire. New York: Modern Library,
1998. Print.
Powels, Barbette. Work, family, and happiness: essays on interdependencies within families, life
events, and time allocation decisions. Utrecht University, 2011.