The Stranger in the Woods
I wanted to know more about the life of Christopher Knight. He had lived the life of a hermit, living alone for 27 years in the woods in Maine and the thought of this, intrigued me.
I wanted to know how he had survived, what his days were like and what had happened to him. As I listened to this novel, I realized Knight was not a true hermit, at least in the definition that I had. This was a frustrating novel for me. I started to wonder if perhaps I was the only one who had a different definition of a hermit so I began asking my friends about their own definitions. The answers I received included: isolation, living off the land, denouncing society, defying societies growth and progress, they all seemed to agree with these basic themes. My view followed most of these ideas, so I felt better.
At the age of 20, Knight drove his car as far as he could into Maine’s dense forest, placed the keys on the dashboard and began walking. Without any plans or supplies, he began his solitude life. I wouldn’t call Knight a hermit because he didn’t actually live the life of a hermit. He only lived a secluded life.
When Knight needed something, he left his hidden camp site and found it. When he needed food, he stole it. He broke into people’s homes and businesses and took what he needed to survive and then he took more. He took radios, a tv, children’s game systems, books and magazines. He took clothing and household items, he took things that did not belong to him. Besides physical items, he took away an individual’s sense of security as he raided their possessions.
I found it frustrating that people want to study him to see how he survived. He survived by stealing. He was content in the woods. He knew it was wrong to steal yet that didn’t stop him. And now that his life is different, he has to change but in reality, Knight would rather be back in the woods living like he did before.
I found it interesting that he lived 27 years without having much communication with others. When they located his campsite, it wasn’t far from other individuals. He had to hear them, right? He just didn’t respond.
So, what’s your opinion? Have you read this novel or heard Knight’s story? Perhaps you’ll need to read this novel to form your own opinion. There is nothing against the author, as he told Knight’s story. It’s the story of Knight, what he did, and how people think he’s an amazing individual that upset me. Reading this novel will definitely make you think.
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