[English] Section B comparative tracks & into the wild

[sertani]

any feedback is greatly appreciated!!!

Spoiler

‘Isolation, exile, separation and loneliness are encountered by both protagonists in Tracks and Into the Wild’. Compare the ways in which Davidson and McCandless are shown to respond to the hardships of their journeys.

Robyn Davidson’s memoir Tracks explores the struggles endured as she ventured off into the desert for self-development. Likewise, Sean Penn’s movie Into the Wild delves into the outlandish journey undertaken by Chris McCandless along with the internal and external forces acting on him that define his journey. However, where Tracks portrays Davidson’s journey as more structured with an end goal, Into the Wild highlights the implications of a wayward journey not rooted in reason and adaptability. Although Penn and Davidson investigate the impact that gender has on how characters are forced to deal with hardships, ultimately it is the societal expectations on gender that mould their responses.

Both Davidson and Penn explore how isolation is used to deal with problems and even escape them. For Chris, his toxic relationship with his family especially with his father who’s “arrogance made him oblivious to the pain he caused” caused Chris to leave like “a river reversing the direction of its flow”. Penn’s placement of the flash flooding sign as Chris parked enables him to use water as a symbol that washes away Chris’ identity allowing him to become Alex Supertramp. These actions demonstrate Chris’ attitude to take flight instead of dealing with problems and Alaska provided the perfect opportunity to escape. Likewise in Tracks, Robyn Davidson didn’t want to conform to the societal expectations of women. Davidson used the isolation in the desert to represent the lack of expectations and judgement she craved. This allowed Robyn to be “free of disguises” and “stripped of all social crutches”. Both Robyn and Chris are portrayed as taking flight in times of hardship by Penn and Davidson which reveal the underlying attitude to take the easy option. However, we learn that these struggles will have to be faced eventually.

Davidson and Penn also discuss the critical effect that a clear plan and destination plays when faced with adversity. Chris’ reasons for heading on his journey to Alaska are vague and never truly mentioned. When Chris drinks with Wayne his plan unfolds, he just wants “to be out there in the wild” free from “politicians and parents”. Penn’s strategic use of alcohol reveals Chris’ nature to be preserved and un-revealing needing alcohol to peel back the answers. Chris’ lack of clear plan leaves him unable to respond to the harshness of Alaska, demonstrated through Penn’s use of water again through the flooding of the river leaving him stranded as Alex Supertramp. Where Tracks differs is through Robyn’s clear plan and support from others. Robyn “walked together” with Eddie and learnt the land firsthand from an expert while having an actual goal of “proving a woman could cross a desert”. Throughout her whole trip she had a physical end destination as well as a mental goal which enabled her to stay focused and not let hardships affect her the same way it did to Chris. Where Tracks shows the positives of a clear concise plan and goal in responding to challenges, Into the Wild instead shows the effect of a journey not defined by a goal that doesn’t account for all possible struggles which leaves Chris unable to respond to the challenge.

Another major focus for both Davidson and Penn was the role that gender had on achieving success and working through challenges. In Into the Wild, Penn portrays Chris’ life as very prosperous and gifted being born as a white male into a rich family with hopes of an Ivy League education. Chris wasn’t conditioned to the harshness of nature evident through Penn’s portrayal of the flirtatious acting of the black lady towards Chris when he is at the homeless shelter highlighting how easy Chris gets things. When faced with the hardship of needing to kill the moose, he wasn’t conditioned to the true reality of the wild making it “the greatest tragedy of [his] life”. However, in Tracks Robyn’s journey in the Alice is filled with discrimination and endless struggles forcing her to adapt to the harsh environment. Robyn felt the strong misogyny rooted in the society, being told she is the “next rape case” and sold as “going along with the ranch” by Kurt. “Hell had no fury by comparison” for Robyn which adapted her for her journey shaping her into “a battle axe” enabling her to overcome hardships such as needing to shoot bull camels, and stand up to Kurt. This critical difference of conditioning between Chris and Robyn demonstrated the implications and the role that gender played when needing to respond to struggles, whether internal or external.

Both Tracks and Into the Wild delve into the journeys of Robyn Davidson and Chris McCandless and discuss the different factors determining how the characters respond to the hardships of their journeys. While both texts are united in the portrayal of isolation in nature as an opportunity to escape from struggles, ultimately they expose the impact of having a clear goal and destination as well as the role of gender in determining the success in characters overcoming and responding to challenges encountered on their journey of self-development.

[zhen]

any feedback is greatly appreciated!!!

Spoiler

‘Isolation, exile, separation and loneliness are encountered by both protagonists in Tracks and Into the Wild’. Compare the ways in which Davidson and McCandless are shown to respond to the hardships of their journeys.

Robyn Davidson’s memoir Tracks explores the struggles endured as she ventured off into the desert for self-development. Likewise, Sean Penn’s movie Into the Wild delves into the outlandish journey undertaken by Chris McCandless along with the internal and external forces acting on him that define his journey. However, where Tracks portrays Davidson’s journey as more structured with an end goal, Into the Wild highlights the implications of a wayward journey not rooted in reason and adaptability. Although Penn and Davidson investigate the impact that gender has on how characters are forced to deal with hardships Expression seems a bit clunky, ultimately it is the societal expectations on gender that mould their responses.

Both Davidson and Penn explore how isolation is used to deal with problems and even escape them. For Chris, his toxic relationship with his family especially with his father who’s “arrogance made him oblivious to the pain he caused” caused Chris to leave like “a river reversing the direction of its flow”. Penn’s placement of the flash flooding sign as Chris parked enables him to use water as a symbol that washes away Chris’ identity allowing him to become Alex Supertramp. Good analysis These actions demonstrate Chris’ attitude to take flight instead of dealing with problems and Alaska provided the perfect opportunity to escape. Last bit seems added on and a bit clunky Likewise in Tracks, Robyn Davidson didn’t want to conform to the societal expectations of women. Davidson used the isolation in the desert to represent the lack of expectations and judgement she craved. I feel like you’re missing quotes and evidence to back up your claims This allowed Robyn to be “free of disguises” and “stripped of all social crutches”. Both Robyn and Chris are portrayed as taking flight in times of hardship by Penn and Davidson which reveal the underlying attitude to take the easy option. However, we learn that these struggles will have to be faced eventually.

Davidson and Penn also discuss the critical effect that a clear plan and destination plays when faced with adversity. Chris’ reasons for heading on his journey to Alaska are vague and never truly mentioned. When Chris drinks with Wayne his plan unfolds, he just wants “to be out there in the wild” free from “politicians and parents”. Penn’s strategic use of alcohol reveals Chris’ nature to be preserved and un-revealing needing alcohol to peel back the answers. I don’t think you’ve expressed yourself clearly here Chris’ lack of clear plan leaves him unable to respond to the harshness of Alaska, demonstrated through Penn’s use of water again through the flooding of the river leaving him stranded as Alex Supertramp. Where Tracks differs is through Robyn’s clear plan and support from others. Robyn “walked together” with Eddie and learnt the land firsthand from an expert while having an actual goal of “proving a woman could cross a desert”. Throughout her whole trip she had a physical end destination as well as a mental goal which enabled her to stay focused and not let hardships affect her the same way it did to Chris. I feel like you’re storytelling a bit too much here Where Tracks shows the positives of a clear concise plan and goal in responding to challenges, Into the Wild instead shows the effect of a journey not defined by a goal that doesn’t account for all possible struggles which leaves Chris unable to respond to the challenge.

Another major focus for both Davidson and Penn was the role that gender had on achieving success and working through challenges. In Into the Wild, Penn portrays Chris’ life as very prosperous and gifted being born as a white male into a rich family with hopes of an Ivy League education. Chris wasn’t conditioned to the harshness of nature evident through Penn’s portrayal of the flirtatious acting of the black lady towards Chris when he is at the homeless shelter highlighting how easy Chris gets things. I think that you should quote rather than paraphrase the plot When faced with the hardship of needing to kill the moose, he wasn’t conditioned to the true reality of the wild making it “the greatest tragedy of [his] life”. However, in Tracks Robyn’s journey in the Alice is filled with discrimination and endless struggles forcing her to adapt to the harsh environment. Robyn felt the strong misogyny rooted in the society, being told she is the “next rape case” and sold as “going along with the ranch” by Kurt. “Hell had no fury by comparison” for Robyn which adapted her for her journey shaping her into “a battle axe” enabling her to overcome hardships such as needing to shoot bull camels, and stand up to Kurt. A bit too much retelling the plot without analysis going on here This critical difference of conditioning between Chris and Robyn demonstrated the implications and the role that gender played when needing to respond to struggles, whether internal or external.

Both Tracks and Into the Wild delve into the journeys of Robyn Davidson and Chris McCandless and discuss the different factors determining how the characters respond to the hardships of their journeys. While both texts are united in the portrayal of isolation in nature as an opportunity to escape from struggles, ultimately they expose the impact of having a clear goal and destination as well as the role of gender in determining the success in characters overcoming and responding to challenges encountered on their journey of self-development.
I feel like I would avoid this type of conclusion that retells what you said in the body paragraphs cause it doesn’t contribute anything and is really repetitive. I feel like you should comment on what the authors say overall about this idea and contrast them.

Take my advice with a grain of salt because I’m not the best at English and I haven’t read your texts. Also, you essay is really solid overall and there are some good bits of analysis. Good job and good luck for your exam. 

[Rowan1999]

Same as Zhen, take my advice with a grain of salt - I am currently in year 12 as well. Overall a quite a good essay, but I think there is still room for improvement.

Best of luck for Wednesday!