Into The Wild, By Chris Mccandless And Henry David Thoreau

Chris McCandless and Henry David Thoreau are followers of the 19th century philosophy Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is the belief that everyone has the wisdom in them to be one with God without having to go through a priest or be in a church. Transcendentalists base this philosophy on self-wisdom, nature, and social reform. Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild shows Chris McCandless’ choices and parallels to Henry David Thoreau’s transcendental beliefs from Walden. One transcendental belief that Chris McCandless follows is living deliberately. For instance, Chris realizes what he needs to live life with value. McCandless says, “Deliberate living: conscious attention to the basics of life and a constant attention to your environment and its concerns.” (Krakauer 168).Chris believes in living for anything requiring efficient concentration. His support in belief is related to Thoreau. Thoreau says,” … I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life…” (Walden) This belief quotes relates McCandless belief of living deliberately. This belief connects them for going into the woods. McCandless’ and Thoreau’s belief supports themes of a true Transcendentalist.

For example, when Chris’ car floods in the detrital wash and he decides to leave it behind. He sees it as an opportunity to get rid of baggage and burns his money (Krakauer 28-29). His actions directly stem from the beliefs of Thoreau. Thoreau says.” Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumbnail” (Walden). This quote supports McCandless belief of simplicity. They believe that they don’t have a lot of material things to live life. McCandless and Thoreau’s belief in simplicity parallel with characteristics of a