"DON'T HESITATE OR ALLOW YOURSELF TO MAKE EXCUSES. JUST GET OUT AND DO IT. YOU WILL BE VERY, VERY GLAD YOU DID."
-Chris McCandless
John Krakauer communicates multiple themes and reinforces those themes with the inclusion of several narratives of adventurers who went on similar expeditions and shared ideals with McClandless. These narratives along with quotes from the writers who influenced Chris is another appeal to ethos and it gives different perspectives of the similar theme about the allure of nature.
Everett Ruess
Everett Ruess was a twenty year-old boy who disappeared exploring the bald rock canyons of Utah in 1935. He was similar to Chris, who changed his name from Chris McCandless to Alex Supertramp, in that Ruess repeatedly changed his name. The last thing they found of him was the name NEMO he inscribed on the walls of the caves in the desert.
The connections between Ruess and McCandless show how those who desire to explore nature may sometimes have a missing element in their lives, such as a father-son relationship in Chris' life. This missing element can cause them to try to rediscover themselves and create a new identity in nature where they only have to rely on themselves and the land. |
Gene Rosellini
Gene Rosellini was a brilliant man who, after going through school and learning everything he could, decided to live without any modern technology or tools to see if humans could survive solely on nature. After a decade he decided that people could not survive this way and society would never be able to live off the land again. Soon after, in 1991, he killed himself. Chris also tried to live off the land it also ended with his death.
The purpose of the connection between McCandless and Rosellini is to reinforce that Chris was not the only one with the ideal that living off the land is best way to live. It also shows how strong the allure of nature is that two people willingly risked their lives to become closer to the environment. |
Jack London
Jack London was Chris' favorite author. He wrote stories on Alaska that inspired Chris to go there for his final and last journey. It was the last place he chose to stay with a plan to live alone while surviving only off the land.
Kraukauer referenced Jack London in the beginning of multiple chapters to help the reader understand Chris by presenting an example of someone whom he admired and who had influence on him. It also shows that Chris was not alone in his fascination with nature so his ideals were not far-fetched from what others thought. "Jack London is King"- Alexander Supertramp (Chris McCandless) |