Into The Wild

In John Krakauer's Into the Wild, Chris McCandless sets out to Alaska, intending to invent a new life for himself. His impractical fascination with adventure and the harsh side of nature allowed him to pursue his goal of finding the true meaning of life. Wanting to prove to himself that he could make the journey on his own, Chris was a master of his destiny.

Throughout his adventure, Chris had a positive attitude and a great desire to live off the land, far from civilization. He left all of his possessions behind and took only what he considered necessary. Of the possessions he brought along, snowshoes, a compass, and a map were not included. He did not want to know where he was, or even the time or day. Chris chose this solitary lifestyle because he found the beauty and freedom of nature too good to pass up. He yearned to wander uncharted territory, live off his wilderness skills, and prove he could survive without the help of anybody else. Although Chris was rebellious and often ignored the rules, he was actually preparing himself for his adventure to Alaska. He resisted instruction because he wanted to be independent and live life the way he wanted to. His sister Carine stated that he never argued with people; "He'd just nod politely and then do exactly what he wanted." Living on the edge was his passion, even as a child. In one of the cards he wrote to a friend, he stated that he found life "more exciting when he was penniless and had to forage around for his next meal."

Choosing the way he wanted to live made Chris the master of his destiny. Before he crawled into his sleeping bag and slipped into unconsciousness, Chris McCandless made it clear in one of his books that he was satisfied with his life.