Society's attitude toward McCandless

• "He was polite, friendly, well-groomed. 'He seemed extremely intelligent,' Franz states..." (Page 56)

McCandless was raised in a privileged house. He had a loving family, was a bright student, and very athletic. He would have had a good future if he lived his life according to his parents. But his charm is what touched so many peoples' lives. He made such an impact on Ronald Franz, after his death Franz followed McCandless' advice. He moved out in his camper and became an atheist. McCandless had a charming personality and many grew fond of him and morned his death. Despite the fact he was a wanderer, he kept up with his personal hygiene.

• "'Chris was good at almost everything he ever tried.' Walt reflects, 'which made him supremely overconfident. If you attempted to talk him out of something, he wouldn't argue. He'd just nod politely and then do exactly what he wanted.'" (Page 121)

McCandless was a stubborn and talented individual. His confidence is what made him think he could last in the Alaskan wilderness on his knowledge. While he did last a long time, he did not make it back from his trip. He was stubborn enough not to listen to anyone or accept. This is one of his character traits that makes him strong. It shows he is independent and does not need anyone to help him. This could also be one of his weaknesses because everyone needs assistance every once in awhile. McCandless was also polite enough not to argue when someone told him not to do something. It displays how level his temper was. He was not an angry individual.

• "Chris marches to a different drummer." (Page 110)

McCamdless' uniqueness was recognized by most. Everyone who knew him knew he was not your average boy. He is a driven and stubborn person. This is an allusion to Thoreau. One of Thoreau's most famous quotes was " If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." McCandless heard another drummer. He admired the works of Thoreau. I found it funny they made an allusion to Thoreau when describing McCandless.

• "He could be generous and caring to a fault, but he had a darker side as well, characterized by monomania, impatience, and unwavering self-absorption, qualities that seemed to intensify through his college years." (Page 123)

McCandless was caring and kind to everyone he met. He would be dependable and helps them as much as he could. But McCandless was obsessed with nature and the injustices in the world. They consumed him. As he grew older, he became more aware of the injustices in the world until he reached his breaking point and left on his trip. McCandless was a good person, but he had his faults just like everyone else.

• "'Personally I see nothing positive at all about Chris  McCandless's lifestyle or wilderness doctrine,' scolded another correspondent. 'Entering the wilderness purposefully ill-prepared, and surviving a near-death experience does not make you a better human, it makes you damn lucky.'" (Page 76)

The person who said this did not know McCandless personally, but read the article about him. They did not agree with McCandless' decisions and thought he had a death wish. This is an example of how McCandless was misunderstood by society. McCandless was very different from your typical person. If you cannot relate to McCandless in anyway, chances are you will not understand why he did what he did.