Into the Wild
Chris McCandless was an adventurer. On his adventure, he called himself Alexander Supertramp. He departed from Emory University in May of 1990, where he had just recently graduated. He set off to explore Alaska and the Western United States until July 30, 1992, when he reached his final resting place: the abandoned bus in Denali National Park where he had spent the past four months. He was only 25 years old when he died of starvation. Everyone he encountered and got close to thought he was following his dreams. His adventure into the Alaskan wilderness was all he talked about with his parents when he started college.
At the beginning of each chapter of Into the Wild, there are quote(s) that relate to each chapter. The following quote was included at the beginning of chapter three from Wallace Stegner’s The American West as Living Space: “It should not be denied that being footloose has always exhilarated us. It is associated in our minds with escape from history and oppression and law and irksome with absolute freedom, and the road has always lead west.” In many ways, this quote applies to Chris; however, he also contradicts this idea.
…show more content…
Chris is footloose because he does what he wishes and does not have to listen to anyone he encounters along his journey. Chris also counters being “footloose” by having jobs along his journey. He gave away all his money to OXFAM America knowing that he would most likely need money on his journey west. For example, he needed money to post bail for himself when he was thrown in jail for train hopping and to get supplies for heading into the wilderness. He had to buy warm clothes for Alaska and plenty of food that would last him through his trips where he was nowhere near anyone or anyplace to get more