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  • Essay / Transcendentalism in the Lives of Chris Mccandless and Ralph Waldo Emerson

    The transparent eyeball is a philosophical metaphor introduced by the transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson. The transparent eyeball represents an eye that is used only for observing rather than thinking. It therefore teaches us to take advantage of all that nature has to offer. Christopher McCandles proves this notion wrong. Early in his life he was very observant. He remained discreet about the ideologies in which he firmly believed. Sometimes when he saw his parents fighting, Christopher and his sister would sit there watching their parents argue, with feelings of hatred. Chris absorbed the negativity of his parents and the corruption of society. Chris McCandles acted as a transparent eyeball, according to Emerson, of which one would benefit from being a silent spectator since one would have a chance of meeting again. However, Chris did not benefit from being a spectator, but rather from his ability to express his thoughts. It was this freedom that inspired Chris to find himself in nature. If he hadn't first stood up to his parents, he never would have gained enough willpower to find himself in the Alaskan wilderness. Both Emerson and Chris McCandles incorporate transcendentalism into their lives, although both appear to act hypercritically in implementing their ideologies. Emerson preaches about living and going into nature and finding yourself, but he never did that, unlike Chris McCandles. However, Chris gives us, the readers, an overwhelming amount of evidence that he is a transcendentalist, but he accomplishes a major task that contradicts his initial philosophies. Chris was looking to go to Alaska to create his own experiences that break away from society, but he found himself on a dilapidated, used bus. This bus has clearly been used and is deteriorating his notion of creating his own experiences. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayChristopher McCandle's major turning point came when he escaped from the transparent eyeball shell immediately after obtaining his diploma; his parents wanted to get him a new car. Almost instinctively, Christopher denied this gift, at which point he was no longer an observant spectator. He spoke out and expressed what he thought the way of life was. As it is said: “It was the first gift she had received from her son in more than two years, since he had announced to his parents that, as a matter of principle, he would no longer give or accept gifts… "I can't believe they were trying to buy me a car... bought my respect" (p. 20-21) By stating that he no longer wanted to accept gifts, in other words, he didn't wanted to owe nothing to anyone He was clearly a stubborn individual, once society got him under control he exploded and unfortunately his family felt the immediate repercussions as he disappeared to Alaska for an extended period of time. . The fact that Chris was not raised and did not practice expressing his opinions, caused him to ratify his life, also known as the escape to Alaska. his revolutionary ideas, such as depending on himself, and not feeling in debt and owing anything to anyone, even his parents. Chris McCandless's first turning point: no longer being voiceless or absorbing, he is no longer a transparent eyeball. It was time for him to speak out and stand up for what he believed in, regardless of the negative observers he will face throughout his journey. The fact that Chris kept all his notions and thoughts locked away until..