Archetypes of characters, images, and situations can be found in almost any form of literature. An archetype is a figure that repeats itself throughout history. The novels The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, by Mark Haddon, Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, and Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer, all share similar archetypes. The most prominent archetype found in these stories is the loner or outcast character. Christopher, Holden, and McCandless all fit this role. They have very few friends or family, do not fit in to their surroundings, and have some type of impairment. Some of these characters fulfill the archetype the entire story, while others have a change of mind. Christopher, from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, is the ideal loner. His disadvantage is some type of mental …show more content…
This archetype is defined as someone separate from society from impairment or advantage; it is unclear if he possesses either. He becomes an outcast by choice, entering the wild on behalf of his dislike for society. This anti-society feeling may stem from his unhappy childhood and his hatred of his parents. Christopher expresses this loathing in this quote; “I’m going to completely knock them out of my life, I’m going to divorce them as my parents once ad for all…” (Krakauer) This statement obviously comes from a deep anger towards his parents, even going as far as calling them idiots. McCandless even speaks of evading human intimacy and emotional baggage. Insufficient parenting could be the disadvantage that drove him to physical and mental isolation. However, before McCandless dies, he seems to experience a change of heart. He reported to have tried to leave the area, but was trapped by the flooded river, and was doomed to the wild. Even with an underlying or unseen impairment, Christopher McCandless still fulfills the loner