Into The Wild Chapter 12 Analysis
In Chapter 12 of Into the Wild, Krakauer tells us that Chris graduated from high school in early June of 1986. At his graduation party, Chris very emotionally presented his dad with a birthday gift--a very expensive telescope. Chris's sister remembers that, as he presented the gift, Chris was fighting back tears as he explained that ''even though they'd had their differences over the years, he was grateful for all the things Dad had done for him.'' Sadly, all of this was called into question that summer as Chris took a journey to see old family friends in California.
In California that summer, Chris learned that his father's divorce from his first wife, Marcia, had not been typical. Chris's father, Walt, had for some time led a double life.