Analysis Of Chris Mccandless In Into The Wild, By Jon Krakauer

With the story of Chris McCandless, all anyone wants to know is why? What could have driven a man to attempt this dangerous journey that ultimately ended his life? Was Christopher crazy? Mental? Or was he perfectly sane in his actions? Chris McCandless was 24 years old when his body gave up and starvation claimed the life of a mysterious young man with a strong lust for adventure. Jon Krakauer was assigned to cover McCandless’ story in an article and became captivated with the ways of Chris and all the unknowns surrounding his life. Retracing his steps, the author set out to understand the person behind this story, not just the facts. In Into the Wild Jon Krakauer documents his discoveries and everything he could possibly learn about the

The book begins by telling the story of a man who picks up a young hitchhiker just outside of Fairbanks, who turned out to be none other than Chris McCandless, who was going by the name of Alexander Supertramp. The driver’s name is Jim Gallien, and he recalls that “‘Alex didn’t seem too worried’” (5) and that “‘[Alex] had an answer for everything I threw at him’” (6). This statement from Gallien makes Chris appear very confident, almost cocky. The fact that Chris had a response to all of Jim’s comments depicts McCandless to be a smart ass in a sense. This portrays a more negative opinion of Chris, opposite to Krakauer's own. By including this interview with Jim Gallien, readers can see the downsides to this puzzling young man that so many desperately want to understand. On the flip side, Krakauer also includes lots of comments from Wayne Westerberg and his family. The Westerbergs offered Chris a place to stay and gave him the family that he never had before. Wayne Westerberg recalls that he was very enthusiastic to have Chris meet his mother, but she didn’t feel the same “‘My mom doesn’t like a lot of my hired help’”(67) he commented. After persisting, his mother agreed to have McCandless over for dinner and she reminisced about how “‘there was

During the time the author spends covering Chris’ family life and speaking with various family members, he documents that “Christopher Johnson McCandless came into the world with unusual gifts and a will not easily deflected from its trajectory” (106). Upon reading this, it’s clear that Krakauer believed McCandless to be a gifted and determined person, with redeemable attributes. Said statement could sway readers to take a second glance at the author’s opinion, and consider the positives McCandless has to offer as a strong will is perhaps a quality many long for. To have the ability to stick to what you want and work hard for it is surely Regardless of all the exceptional experiences many had with the young man, Jim Gallien was not the only one to see Chris’ stubborn, more negative side. Along his travels Chris got a job working at McDonalds in Bullhead City, Arizona. McCandless was already far into his journey, and wasn’t the most hygienic person at the time, Lori Zarza remembers: “‘When he first started working, he was homeless, and he’d show up to work smelling bad. It wasn’t up to McDonald’s standards to come in smelling the way he did’” (41). This gives the impression that McCandless was dirty, and irresponsible of taking care of himself. By this statement, readers get the idea that Chris was perhaps not