Chris McCandless thought he understood modern day America. Thought he figured it all out. He did not want to be put in a mold and squeezed into an office cubicle. It was either that or the life of a traveler. He chose the latter. Chris felt society was a sham and the only goal he had was to live a life of truth. "Rather than love, than money, than fame. Give me truth."(p.117) Chris interpreted "truth" quite dramatically. A life of no material needs. A life closer to nature. So he burned all his pocket money. A life in the wilderness. So he abandoned his car and began hiking.
This is exactly what Chris desired. He loved the mystery, the vulnerability of being in the wild. "As if all your life you had been led by the hand like a small child and suddenly you were on your own, you had to learn to walk by yourself."
Chris Martin
Chris Trotter
DFLA banner at the 2006 March for Life, courtesy o...(p.103). But to Chris it couldn't be just any wild. Not the kind where you walk a few miles and you're back on local roads. It had to be the most extreme. So he staggered into the Alaskan bush.
To Chris living in society is like living blind. You never notice the majestic wonders of nature. When you walk down a city street what do you see? Cars, pavement, buildings etc... This suffocated Chris. "I prefer the saddle to the street car, and the star sprinkled sky to the roof..." (p.87) He needed beauty in his life. So he went to look for it. Chris did not delay his goal. Didn't put it off till everything settled down. When people do that it's already too late. When life is calm you're an old man sitting on a bench. That's no condition to...