McCandless and Thoreau share extremely similar Transcendentalism thoughts through both their actions and their words. Examples of their cunning similarities in the ways of thoughts would be their connections with nature, their lacks of interest in materials, and their strive for a simple life. With their thoughts on connections with nature, McCandless and Thoreau are an incredible comparison. -For example, when McCandless is picked up by Gallien at the start of his travels, Gallien listens to McCandless express his wanting to “live off the land” in Alaska (Krakauer 4-5). –Here, McCandless expresses his desire to set off for the experience of living completely involved with nature and ultimately untouched by modern day society and everyday living. –Thoreau says in Walden, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life” (Walden). –Here, Thoreau expresses his desire to retreat to the woods and live as he pleased. He only wanted the ‘essential facts of life’, which one could infer means Thoreau wished to live as man before civilization, with only the facts of survival or death. –Connecting with nature is only one of the many ways McCandless and Thoreau’s Transcendentalists minds compare. …show more content…
–For example, when McCandless donates his life’s savings to charity, burns his money, and abandons his car, he’s showing no signs of interest in a lavishing lifestyle (Krakauer 20-22) –Here, McCandless expresses his disgust with luxury living. Materials and possessions mean nothing to him, and it is a clear point to see. –Thoreau says in Walden, “…Ruined by luxury and heedless expense…” (Walden). –This shows Thoreau sees luxurious lifestyles and expensive tastes meaningless, and that wealth is nothing more than the popular desire. –Lack of interest in materials is only one of the many different ways McCandless and Thoreau can connect