McCandless vs. Thoreau

• "It is the experience, the memories, the great triumphant joy of living to the fullest extent in which real meaning is found." (Page 43)

These are the words McCandless wrote in his journal before he went to Las Vegas. He had already been on his journey for some time. I believe McCandless felt more alive on the road traveling then staying in one place and going through the motions of life, but he wanted everyone to live their life on the edge and take risks. He thought the more chances you take and memories you make, the more satisfied you will be with it in the end. McCandless lived by this himself and was content with his life and the impact he made with it. Living your life is a reoccurring theme throughout the novel and reflected in the works of Thoreau, who McCandless was fond of. A copy of Walden, by Thoreau, was discovered in the bus where he was found, and it is no surprise they share the same ideology. One Thoreau aphorism is "However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names." which is very similar to what McCandless wrote and believed.

• "It seems that McCandless was drawn to women but remained largely or entirely celibate, as chaste as a monk. Chastity and moral purity were qualities McCandless mulled over long and often." (Page 71)

Intimacy was a serious topic to McCandless. His innocence is shocking for our society today. Everywhere we look there are sexual connotations. It is in the media, advertisements, and the music we listen to; even our society is stunned by a young man denying temptations of the flesh. His decision is commendable. He went against what is expected, but was he driven by other things? McCandless had a passion for running and being able to be free. This reflects his free, stubborn, and passionate personality. He was just passionate about nature and other issues he thought were important. His chastity is very similar to Thoreau and another way they share the same ideology. Thoreau believed being a genius or hero is correlated with celibacy and remained a virgin his whole life. When McCandless' body was discovered, he had highlighted a quote from Walden saying "Chastity is the flowering of man; and what are called Genius, Heroism, Holiness, and the like, are but various fruits which succeed it." Perhaps, McCandless looked up to this idea and valued it.

• "Chris' seemingly anomalous poltical postions were perhaps best summed up by Thoreau's declaration in "Civil Disobedience": 'I heartily accept the motto- "That government is best which governs least."' (Page 126)

McCandless' actions display this belief. When he ditched his car, he avoided the law by taking his licenses plates and burning his money. When he filled out one of his tax forms, he said it was not any of their business. He thought that privacy in the government was best. This is similar to Thoreau because of his quote "That government is best which governs least." Thoreau believed in privacy too. Thoreau and McCandless shared a lot of the same ideology.

• "The fruits eaten temperately need not ashamed of our appetites, nor interrupt the worthiest pursuits. But put an extra condiment into your dish, and it will poison you." (Page 171)

McCandless hightlighted this passage from Thoreau's Walden. Next to it he wrote "The Moose." McCandless had killed a moose a couple of days earlier, but he did not know how to cure the meat properly so it went to waste. He felt terrible about this. To live off the land, like he was doing, would require him not to waste. He was trying to eat simply. Thoreau's belief was to eat for the sake of staying alive not for entertainment or flavor. McCandless was trying to following the Transcendentalist life style. Krakauer quotes Thoreau throughout the novel to compare the views of McCandless and Thoreau. They shared most of the same views. Perhaps, McCandless wanted to follow Thoreau's lifestyle.

• "McCandless went into the wilderness not primarily to ponder nature or the world at large but, rather, to explore the inner country of his own soul." (Page 186)

Other Transcendentalist, such as Thoreau, exculeded themselves from society to reflect about it and connect with nature. McCandless is different because he went into the wild for different reasons. He went on his journey because he was trying to find himself. McCandless was frustrated with his life and the things that had occurred. He was always different and fond of nature. He found happiness in his passion for nature.