Some of the ideas in The Harbor, by Carl Sandburg closely mirror Chris's ideas.
The poem opens by saying, "Passing through huddled and ugly walls By doorways where women ..." One thing that struck me was the huddled and ugly walls. Both Chris and the author both agree that society restricts people from being an individual because these "ugly walls" prevent them reaching out and expanding themselves. Chris shows this using his stubborness. In one instance, Chris does not listen to his teacher on how to write a lab report because he thought it was a "stupid rule" (108). Although it most likely would not have taken more time to write a lab report using the correct format, Chris feels like he is being too restricted by his teacher and quite purposely does the opposite of what is expected. Most people would not mind following the teacher's directions because they see it as common sense, but Chris believes that by agreeing to little things like this, it slowly amounts to being oppressed by society's "huddled and ugly walls".
I also believe that Chris is similar, but also very different to the women in doorways. These women are unhappy about where they are in society because they do not fit in. Hence, they are not inside or outside, they are stuck in the doorway. Chris is also similar because he "didn't quite fit into society" (108). But the difference between the women and Chris is that Chris enjoys being different because he is an individual. And even though he does not fit in, he does not want to stay stuck in the doorway. He instead tries to break free from the ugly walls and get into nature, unlike the women. Chris takes pride in the fact that he is in the outside of society while the women are ashamed of it. I think many of us would also be ashamed of not fitting into society, and that is part of the reason that it is so difficult for us to understand Chris.
The last part of the poem describes nature as "masses of great gray wings And flying white bellies Veering and wheeling free in the open". I believe that Chris would be happier in a society that functions more like nature does. Nature is able to live together in "masses", but still is able to be "veering and wheeling free in the open". Chris would enjoy this type of society because he does have friends and enjoys their company, but he also likes to be able to do his own thing. Also, Chris's personality has been described as "generous and caring to a fault" (120). Chris would be able to help many people in a society that functions like nature because people would accept him more and be willing to recieve his help. By living in "masses", it proves that nature is able to live peacefully and therefore they do not unfairly judge eachother. When describing nature, Sandburg does not mention anything about authority, which is the main reason that Chris hates society. Hence, Chris would prosper in a society where there is no one telling him what to do. All in all, Chris would definately agree with most of the ideas Sandburg presents in his poem.
This is a very interesting point. I have also noticed that "Inscrptions on an Entrance to the Wood," compare to Chris McCandless and how he lives his life. The poem talks about how hhuman society is sinned and how you need to be in nature to understand life and to be pure of society. Chris does this by isolating himself from his roomates, going on long road trips through nature, and everntually leaving for Alaska. He is trying to get away from human society by living in the woods and in nature.
ReplyDeleteAlanna took the word right out of my mouth. Not really, because that would be weird, but you get my drift. So anyway, Chris does not only beleive that society has sinned, but that it is a bad idea. The very nature of society is against nature, with the most complex pecking order being a pack of wolves. In society, the laws of nature are perverted to such an extent by so many people that everyone has power over everyone else. Everyone is so greedy that they all want their own "Piece of the pie" as the saying goes, and try to get as much power as they can. This greed for power is done by nearly everyone in all walks of life, and to such an extent that the web of society binds all. Instead of one coherent whole, the society's pieces act of their own accord. There must be one ruler. I mean, look at the human body. the head is the boss. End of discussion. The legs do not go off in different directions, they obey the head. And it works, every living thing does it, who are we to defy the nature of our bodies? God was right in attempting to keep us away from the Tree of Knowledge. Even given a paradise, we ruin it. Eden exists no more.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great, well-thought out post. Comparing Chris to women in the doorways is quite thought-provoking. Many people are "stuck in door ways" in life. In is a unique trait to begin to realize that one doesn't have to go inside, try to be part of a group that has abondond them. Instead, free minded individual favor escaping the door ways and head to the "burst of blue" as found later in part of the poem you didn't use. The burst could represent the antithis to the "ugly walls". A burst of individuality, freedom, breaking free, in my opinion, could be used interchangedly.
ReplyDeleteA society ruled by nature, nature being the "masses" "veering and wheeling" seperatly yet as a whole, is a idea that has inspired revoutionaries as well as freedom seekers like Chris. In the examples i can think of, unfortunatly, this idea has been a resounding failure. I think it is because humans have surpassed nature, and the only way to do achieve that type of peace is to abondon it. That is idealistic thinking that no one- save Chris, is ready to make such abig sacrifice.