Who Is Chris Mccandless Journey In Into The Wild

Christopher McCandless took his journey into the Alaskan wilderness to find his identity. However, as readers analyze Chris’ journey, they often learn more about who they are as a person. Chris left his wealthy family and comfortable life for the harsh wilderness because he wanted to find true happiness and his true self. True happiness can only come from knowing one’s true self. A true self is a state of full awareness of who one is and what one truly wants in life. However, Chris’ personality was that of a drifter who was never satisfied with expensive cars, endless opportunities for education, and meaningful relationships. He constantly fled his problems before they could catch up to him. Throughout Krakauer’s novel Into the Wild, Christopher

He was always on the move, travelling from campsite to campsite. This movement highlighted Chris’ inept ability to trust others because he is not fully sure of who he is. As Krakauer reveals Chris’ journal entries about his journeys, readers begin to realize Chris was often confused about his true meaning as a person. He searched in the beautiful and exhilarating countryside for a better understanding of his role in the world. As Chris became closer to understanding his true self, he became more and more lonely; his life was gaining meaning, yet his relationships were falling apart. "McCandless was thrilled to be on his way north, and he was relieved as well—relieved that he had again evaded the impending threat of human intimacy, of friendship, and all the messy emotional baggage that comes with it. He had fled the claustrophobic confines of his family” (page 55). Chris was constantly leaving people when he was getting too close. Chris’ lack of trust in humanity can be traced back to his father’s infidelity. During Chris’ journey west, he met a family who claimed that they shared the same dad as Chris. This was a heartbreaking revelation that further pushed Chris away from society and into the