Portfolio Time

Wow! We are almost done, but there is still so much left to do! The three papers I am submitting in my portfolio are my personal analysis, my close reading paper, and of course, my research paper. The paper I am happiest with right now is my research paper. I think that I really lucked out finding such a popular movie with such a clear topic to write about it with. The paper that still needs a lot of work is probably my personal analysis. I just re wrote it, and it is waaaaay better, but I am not at the 5 page minimum and am all out of things to say! My epigraph paper is also pretty rough, but with a little more editing, I think it will be ok. My research paper is strong because I found the balance between my primary source and my outside topic of stereotyping. I want to say thanks to all my group members for helping so much, Thanks guys!!!

Alternate Universe...

If the world were a perfect place, then Chris would never have died, and would have, instead, seen the error of his ways and rushed home to tell his parents how sorry he was for running away, but alas, the world is not a perfect place. I believe that if Chris had made it out of Alaska on his first try, the time he tried to cross the swollen river with no success, he would have changed, but not much. I think that he was ready to settle down, and maybe even call Carnie, but I don't think he ever forgave his parents for their lies. The text supports my first prediction. While reading Doctor Zhivago, Chris wrote along the margin, "HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED" (page 189). I think Chris had spent a long enough time away from people to realize how valuable those intense connections could be, and upon returning to the "real world" I think he would have gone back to work foe Wayne. He respected Wayne and would have been comfortable enough with him, it's like he said in a letter, "you had one of the highest characters of any man I'd met" (page 33). Then I think he would have started making other ties. I also think he would have gone back to visit Franz, and kept in close contact with him. And maybe one day he would have gotten married, and had kids, and his sister would have helped him out, and they would all live happily ever after. But, I think this is mostly just wishful thinking.

Dear Chris, I Still Love You!

While reading the book, I like Krakauer, noted when Chris made mistakes. However, I , like Krakauer, do not really consider them to be mistakes. Chris every move, although sometimes a little bizarre, was carefully calculated. When he came into town, he hid his possessions to prevent them from being stole, he did the necessary research (like buying the plant book), and he was aware of what he was getting himself into when he decided to go to Alaska. Chris was not stupid and arrogant, he simply wanted to jump into life, and get as far away from all the bad stuff as possible. He did not want a map because he wanted to fell like he was in the middle of no where. He did not want an axe, because he knew he could get by without it, and he mistook a caribou for a moose because he valued the lives of all creatures as equal. At the end of the book I loved Chris even more because I feel like there is a piece of him, and his wild spirit, in all of us! I am real sad he died :( Because I think when he tried to cross the river he was ready to settle down a little.