Analysis Of Into The Wild, By Chris Mccandless

To be materialistic means to have values that put relatively high priority on making a lot of money and having many possessions, as well as on image and popularity, which are almost always expressed via money and possessions. In Jon Krakauer’s book, Into the Wild, Christopher is “living off the essentials of life.” After graduating from Emory University, Christopher McCandless abandoned his possessions, gave his entire savings account to charity, and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Most Americans wish they had more money and possessions, but not Chris McCandless, his rejection of money and material objects, as well as his quest for a “living off the land” experience leads to him donating the remainder of his collage fund, $24,000, to OXFAM, hence relinquishing his prosperous upbringing. Chris had announced to his mom and

For example, Chris found himself much freer, “Two years he walks the earth, no phone, no pool, no pets, no cigarettes.” (163). This explains how McCandless feels about his journey so far, right after he walks into the wilderness. He’s proud of what he has accomplished, and all without money and possessions. He didn’t like the thought of everyone relying on physical objects to make them happy because it was a conformist and miserable way to live. In addition, Chris found himself not in need of any money, “Put a match to it. One hundred and twenty-three dollars in legal tender was promptly reduced to ash and smoke” (29). This clarifies how Chris does not care for money. Burning the money was a way to appease Chris’s need to be entirely on his own without the use of anything modern like his American currency. McCandless is showing his distance and detachment from material things because now he cannot buy the things in life that are not needed. So not only do you get to live a blissful life you get to have great new