Of Individuality And Conservatism In Into The Wild, By Jon Krakauer

In Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild, Chris McCandless seeks to escape the boundaries of society and find his true self in the wilderness. At one point he befriends Ronald Franz, an old man who lost his only son. The two form a bond, Ronald viewing Chris as the son he lost. However, Chris left Franz like many others, writing to Franz and encouraging him to take up his way of life, saying, “So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future.”(56-57) He speaks

Chris’s word choice of “conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism” highlights the stressful limitations of society and just how many forces entrap someone. By saying “conditioned” he is also implying that the forces are ever present throughout someone's life which makes them near impossible to escape. The quote relates back to the theme of individuality, a characteristic that embodies Chris as a whole. McCandless rejects traditional societal roles, forging his own path for a more “genuine” life for himself. However he is taking it a step further, feeling that individuality is not just right for him but could also benefit the lives of others, in this case

Ken Sleight, who looked into Everett and his life, tried to explain the almost erratic behavior of Everett and Ruess: “We like companionship, see, but we can't stand to be around people for very long. So we go get ourselves lost, come back for a while, then get the hell out again.”(96). Sleight describes the restfulness and sense of isolation Chris feels, getting close to people before ultimately pushing them away. He does not despise companionship, but his need for independence and solitude makes it impossible for him to become truly close to someone. Sleight’s word choice draws on the two forces that split Chris. When one thinks of a “Companion” they think of a deep and intimate connection, one which would likely last a while and takes the right person. Chris found those people in Wayne and Franz, yet his need to “get the hell out” shows the urgency he feels leaves. Friendship almost confines him and like society he needs to escape. The quote builds on the theme of individualism by trying to explain it. People like McCandless do not despise the world, rather struggling to find their place in it and seeking to live their lives their own way. Their desire for independence and self-discovery is made near impossible by the constraints of society, and they’d rather choose to leave society itself. Individualism for someone like Chris is not a simple hatred of others, but