Christopher Mccandless

Christopher McCandless was an intelligent young man who was deeply influenced by the material he read. As a scholar, he was well-read and developed his morals and beliefs based on what authors he connected with. Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer tells the story of McCandless’ early life, and then his subsequent death after his journey in the Alaskan wilderness. McCandless’ motivation is often questioned, as to the outside world he seemed to have an easy life. He was an intelligent student, having excelled in high school and then he went on to double major in history and anthropology at Emory University. After graduating, he donated most of his savings to charity and set out of his journey. One of the authors that McCandless connected to was Henry
He is most well known for his book Walden, which he wrote while living by himself in the woods on Walden Pond. His writing throughout his life focused on many different themes, including the relationship between light and dark, the ideas and importance of nature, the meaning of progress, the importance of detail, and lastly, the relationship between the mind and body. He also developed many philosophical ideas concerning knowing oneself, living simply and deliberately, and seeking truth. During the end of his stay on the pond, he spent two weeks in the woods of Maine and it was there that he got the experience to write “Ktaadn.” Of his trip up Mount Ktaadn he wrote, “When next we awoke, the moon and stars were shining again, and there were signs of dawn in the east. I have been thus particular in order to convey some idea of a night in the woods.” Throughout his work, it is easy to sense Thoreau’s love of the nature; here he seems in awe of the night sky. Whilst in nature, Thoreau feels content and not bothered by anything around him. He is able to live simply and therefore, life’s burdens become something of no concern. Thoreau wants to live in wild nature, in the parts of land no one had touched before. His desires were infectious and it is clear that McCandless was striving to have the same experience as the philosopher. McCandless wanted to live on his own off the land. One of his friends recalled the McCandless had “Said he didn’t want to see a single person, no airplanes, no sign of civilization. He wanted to prove to himself that he could make it on his own, without anybody else’s help” (159). McCandless was striving to have an authentic experience by travelling alone away from society. Like Thoreau, McCandless felt that society was a main cause of unhappiness in most people’s lives; he felt that materialism was a definite way to prevent a person from leading a good and moral life.. Both believed too