How Did Chris Mccandless Influenced The Hero

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Chris McCandless always wanted to live on his own and in the wild, however that would soon become a mistake. In the novel Into The Wild the main character, Chris McCandless, hitchhiked to Alaska. He had given $25,000 to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Chris McCandless was influenced by many literary heroes, but the three that influenced him the most were Jack London, Henry David Thoreau, and Leo Tolstoy. Chris was influenced by these heroes in many ways, and they changed his life forever . Both Chris and Jack London were looking for a simplified easier life, to try to make themselves happy. Chris McCandless favorite author was …show more content…

Leo Tolstoy was a Russian author whose ideals were popular in the late 19th century and was the author of War and Peace which McCandless gifted to a person, a friend, he went on with his travels. Tolstoy's beliefs were that people should live off the land, practice chastity, refrain from owning private property and using money. Chris seemed to be strongly influenced by these ideals. “He arranged all his paper currency in a pile on the sand... and put a match to it”- page 29, Which McCandless did with all of his money and cards and even changed his name. He burned everything and started over with a new name which was Alex and a new beginning. Chris idolizes Tolstoy and forgives his faults because Tolstoy didn’t try to hide and cover up his flaws and mistakes from the world. On the other hand, his father, Walt McCandless had an affair and betrayed him and his family. Chris didn’t hold people to the same standards. As much as he hated his father he still had very high expectations of him. The relation with Leo was accustomed to Chris’ life. The relation they shared made Chris look up to Leo. He also read books from him which made him close to what Leo had felt inside of

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