Into The Wild Individualism Analysis

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In 1845, famous transcendentalist author Henry David Thoreau isolated himself from society and moved into a remote cabin near Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. For two years Thoreau lived a simplistic life surrounded by all things natural and pure. Likewise, Christopher McCandless did almost the same thing as Thoreau and deserted his prior life to explore the world and experience it in its true beauty. Therefore, John Krakauer, author of Into the Wild, suggests that Christopher McCandless demonstrates the Romantic characteristic of individualism due to his decision to abandon his previous, prosperous life in order to "live off the land." Christopher McCandless can identify as a Romantic considering his choice to follow in the footsteps of his favorite Transcendentalist …show more content…

Emerson once said, "we but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents" (Emerson 391). Emerson was heavily against the idea of conforming to the mainstream ways of society for the fear of rejection. He encouraged the growth and acceptance of the individual, and overall, Emerson promoted having confidence in one's personal ideas and beliefs. Similarly, it is suggested that McCandless related to Emerson on a personal level; and in some ways this was a good relation to have. However, some may argue that the inspiration provided by Emerson also contributed to McCandless' death, implying that Emerson's footsteps were not possibly the best to follow. Nonetheless, Emerson did provide valuable advice that was worth listening to, including the idea of individualism. Carine McCandless, Christopher's younger sister, in an interview for Into the Wild, stated, "even when we were little... He was very to himself. He wasn’t antisocial—he always had friends, and everybody liked him—but he could go off and entertain himself for hours. He

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