Chelsea Ottaviani; McCandless Family response

After watching the McCandless's presentation, my feelings for Chris did not change much. I went into the presentation feeling that Chris was a selfish young man who went into the wilderness unprepared and was basically asking never to come back. I understand that Chris was "seeking" something, and by the note he had with him at his death, it is apparent that he found what he was seeking. I also understand that if he were to tell his family where he was going that he wouldnt have had the freedom that he felt he needed. What I do not understand is how someone could put themselves and their own needs so far above the needs of one's family. Watching the McCandless' up on that stage the other day and hearing them tell stories about their son was almost depressing in my eyes. When they stated that it had taken them almost 15 years to be able to get in front of people and tell Chris's story really puts it into perspective how much Chris broke his family's heart's. Looking at pictures that depicted such a happy family who took vacations together and seemed to always look so close makes me wonder why he would have such a dying need to break away from all of this. I do understand that pictures are not always portraits of the truth, and I know that I will not know the whole truth as to why Chris left his family behind, but I still feel that it was far more selfish to leave his family with the pain of his death than it was worth the self journey that he took. I am hoping that by the end of this semester, when I have learned more from this class, that I will be able to change my opinion and look at Chris in the light that others have.