Into The Wild Identity Analysis

Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer is a realistic fiction novel about a man named Christopher Johnson McCandless who leaves society behind and goes on an adventure, eventually to die in his dream destination, Alaska. Chris McCandless abandoned his family, donated all of his savings to charity, only took a few possessions and walked into the wild. He met many influential people and went to different places that shaped him along the way. When he eventually made it to the place he had been planning to go, Alaska, he eventually died of starvation. Chris McCandless’s identity throughout the novel Into the Wild was shown through his actions, was shaped by his interests, and was also affected by his values and beliefs, though he often did not live up to them.

Christopher McCandless displays his unique identity in his actions because he acts based on his beliefs and interests. McCandless graduates college with honors, but then leaves all of his old life behind for a life on the road. He cuts off contact with his family, sends all his money to charity, and only takes a few belongings with him. (Krakauer 20-23) This action helps to show McCandless’s identity as a man who travels alone and is self reliant. It also show that he values education and was smart. After this incident, McCandless changes his name to Alexander Supertramp, master of his own

destiny. (Krakauer 23). This shows that McCandless wants to leave his old identity behind, and creates an entirely new one for himself. When McCandless gets a job at McDonalds, he eventually quits because he couldn’t wear socks and was told that he had to bathe more. This is part of McCandless’s identity because he was stubborn and wanted to do things his way, not anybody else’s way. All of these things that McCandless did were to show his identity as a person who isn’t phased by the rest of society to act a certain way.
McCandless’s interests drew him closer to the people who helped influence his decision to go to Alaska. Chris reads many novels about nature and the wild by the authors Leo Tolstoy, Jack London, and Henry David Thoreau (Krakauer 23). These works inspire McCandless to become more at peace with himself and with nature, and help shape his identity. McCandless is also changed by the places he is interested in and goes to live in. When he is in Alaska, McCandless is unprepared and must live almost completely off the land, which makes him feel more in communion with nature. One of the people McCandless meets on the road is Wayne Westerberg, who lives in South Dakota and owns a grain elevator. He gave McCandless a job on his farm(Krakauer 62-64). South Dakota became a part of McCandless’s life and helped shape his identity with the people he met and what he did there. Westerberg tells of how he told “Alex” not to think about things so much and that that was his issue, but McCandless continued to be true to himself. McCandless’s interests drew him near to people who influenced him, but his identity was most based on his beliefs.
McCandless’s beliefs are the main motivation for his great Alaska expedition and are the main part of his identity even though he didn’t always live up to them. For example, McCandless hitchhikes throughout the story to many destinations (Krakauer 158-159) This goes against McCandless’s idea to be self reliant as part of his identity. Even though he denies supplies and money from other people, he still relies on others for transportation. Another example of when McCandless goes against his beliefs is when he shoots a moose in Alaska, and he eventually lets it goes to waste (Krakauer 166-167). This goes against his idea of respecting nature, because he shot the moose and it never got eaten or used. Even so, McCandless did try to save it, but wasn’t prepared to do so, which was his fault for being unprepared. Chris also cuts off contact with his family and doesn’t follow rules, like in the Detrital Wash. He drove his car in even though there were signs saying not to, and eventually paid the price when he had to abandon his car after a mudslide (Krakauer 25-29). This shows that McCandless values family and rules differently than most people in society. This is part of his identity because he does whatever he wants, and is not phased by rules or the norms of society. Even though he doesn’t always live up to his beliefs they are the most important part of McCandless’s identity because that is how he sees himself.
Chris McCandless’s identity throughout the novel Into the Wild was shown through his actions, was shaped by his interests, and was also affected by his values and beliefs, though he often did not live up to them.

Chris demonstrates his unique identity in his actions, by doing things that most people in society wouldn’t do. McCandless’s interests helped to shape his identity when he was influenced by the people he talked to or liked, and the places that he visited. His values and beliefs are what motivated him to live his life the way that he did, and though he didn’t always live up to them, they were very important to

him.