A rebellious person is someone who “defies or resists some authority, government, or tradition” (Dictionary.com). Chris McCandless’s persona can truly be encompassed by this one word, “rebellious”. Often people find rebellion to have a negative impact on the individual or society who go against accustomed traditions and beliefs. Chris’s rebellious nature is on the opposite side of this spectrum because his only goal was to improve his life through his rebellious adventures. Chris once stated, “So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation” (Krakauer 57). Although Chris rebelled against many people he cared for and conventional traditions, he did this to follow his dream and find his true purpose. Initially, Chris began his rebellious course by beginning to disobey his parents. Both of his parents were affluent and prosperous, well-to-do people. They were also very strict and wanted the best for their children. This meant they wanted both Chris and his sister, Carine, to be well educated …show more content…
For example, Chris ventured into the Alaskan wilderness in the dead of winter, and most people would never be able to fathom that, nor want to. Chris was not afraid of being away from society and doing something others would turn away from. Another example, while in high school Chris would spend the weekends wandering “the seedier quarters of Washington, chatting with prostitutes and homeless people, buying them meals, earnestly suggesting ways they might improve their lives” (Krakauer 113). His parents and peers did not always understand or follow what Chris believed. Many people thought this behavior to be quite odd, but Chris felt it was the right thing to do to help those people. In both of these instances, Chris’s willful rejection of traditional beliefs and behaviors made him into the man he wanted to