Into the Wild

Based on the content of chapter 12, write to explain how this quote (at the beginning of the chapter) relates to Chris and the change in his attitude/demeanor. Does it alter how you feel about Chris and his actions?

Chapter 12 of Into the Wild

Asked by
Last updated by Aslan
Answers 1
Add Yours

Many of the people who reacted strongly to the story of McCandless’s death were angered by what they perceived as his hubris, walking into the wilderness with few survival tools and almost no food, and no safety net. In this section, we see evidence that there is indeed some truth to this idea. It may have only been his youth, but although McCandless acknowledged the danger of his plan, he did not seem to truly believe that he wouldn’t survive. On McCandless’s first independent road trip, he gets lost in the Mojave desert and almost dies from dehydration. Yet, instead of learning a lesson from this, he instead is angered when his parents ask him to be more careful, offended at the idea that he can’t take care of himself. This foreshadows McCandless’s later insistence on going forward with his Alaska trip, against much advice, and without help, though it is often offered.