The aim of this essay is to critically investigate Jon Krakauer’s use of the philosopher Henry David Thoreau’s ideas,
principles, notions and beliefs with the purpose of characterizing “Alexander Supertramp” in the book “Into the Wild”. The thesis of this paper is that Jon Krakauer uses Thoreau´s perceptions and views on society, nature and wilderness to interpret Christopher McCandless's actions and to illustrate his motives. Krakauer thereby characterizes McCandless as a late “Thoreauvian” transcendentalist. This essay will critically analyze Krakauer´s book and point out perceptions and ideas of Henry David Thoreau that Krakauer uses to illustrate and explain the protagonist`s actions according to his own perception. Differences and similarities between Thoreau and McCandless will also be discussed. The works cited by Thoreau will be
his essay “Civil Disobedience” (1849) and his book “Walden” (1854).
Table of Contents
1 Introduction: „Into the Wild“ – The Story of Christopher McCandless
2 Thoreau´s Philosophy in Jon Krakauer´s “Into the Wild”
2.1 Life and Influence of Henry Thoreau
2.2 Thoreau in “Into the Wild”
2.3 Christopher McCandless – a modern Henry Thoreau?
3 Conclusion: Conflicting Perspectives on Christopher McCandless
Objectives and Research Focus
This paper aims to critically investigate how author Jon Krakauer employs the ideas, principles, and beliefs of Henry David Thoreau to characterize the protagonist, Christopher McCandless, in the narrative "Into the Wild". The core research question addresses whether Krakauer’s interpretation accurately reflects McCandless’s motives or if he creates an idealized, romanticized version of the figure as a "Thoreauvian" transcendentalist.
- The life and philosophical influence of Henry David Thoreau.
- Krakauer's literary techniques in interpreting McCandless’s actions.
- Parallels and discrepancies between Thoreau’s and McCandless’s lifestyles.
- The concept of nature and wilderness in transcendentalist thought.
- Conflicting public and critical perspectives on Christopher McCandless.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2 Thoreau in “Into the Wild”
As already stated, the thesis of this paper is that Jon Krakauer uses Thoreau´s perceptions, beliefs and views on society, nature and wilderness to interpret Christopher McCandless actions and to illustrate his motives. Krakauer characterizes McCandless as a late “Thoreauvian” transcendentalist by doing so. The following paragraph will outline how Krakauer employs Thoreau´s philosophy in his narrative.
The first major concept by Thoreau that Krakauer uses in “Into the Wild” is the idealized view on nature. (Sanchez: 2013) In Thoreau´s perception, nature is a romantic wilderness, a pastoral garden where the individual can retreat from civilization to find personal enlightenment. In his book “Walden” Thoreau describes the withdrawal from society into the wilderness. The book is based on his own experiences at Walden Pond in Massachuetts. (Schnelder 1995: “Walden”) In the book, the main character puts the ideas of the transcendentalists into practice and engages in a spiritual journey through nature, just as McCandless does in Krakauer´s “Into the Wild”. The transcendentalist, romantic understanding of nature and wilderness, namely picturing it as a thrilling and sublime place, is shown at the beginning of chapter fourteen when Krakauer quotes from Thoreau´s personal journal to describe the feeling one has when climbing a mountain.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: „Into the Wild“ – The Story of Christopher McCandless: This chapter introduces the biography of Christopher McCandless and the narrative framework established by Jon Krakauer, while outlining the controversial reception of McCandless's journey.
2 Thoreau´s Philosophy in Jon Krakauer´s “Into the Wild”: This section analyzes the connection between Henry David Thoreau’s transcendentalist philosophy and Krakauer’s portrayal of McCandless through themes like nature, economy, and civil disobedience.
2.1 Life and Influence of Henry Thoreau: This chapter provides a historical overview of Henry David Thoreau’s life, his philosophy, and his enduring influence on American thought and transcendentalism.
2.2 Thoreau in “Into the Wild”: This chapter examines how Krakauer specifically integrates Thoreau’s quotes and ideological concepts to frame McCandless as a modern-day adherent to transcendentalist ideals.
2.3 Christopher McCandless – a modern Henry Thoreau?: This chapter explores the criticism surrounding Krakauer’s romanticized portrayal and discusses whether McCandless truly embodies the unique figure depicted in the book.
3 Conclusion: Conflicting Perspectives on Christopher McCandless: This chapter synthesizes the arguments, concluding that Krakauer uses Thoreau’s philosophy as a lens to justify and romanticize the actions of McCandless despite obvious life-style differences.
Keywords
Christopher McCandless, Jon Krakauer, Henry David Thoreau, Into the Wild, Transcendentalism, Wilderness, Civil Disobedience, Walden, Biography, Nature, Philosophy, Romanticism, Idealism, Materialism, Alexander Supertramp.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this academic paper?
The paper examines how Jon Krakauer uses the philosophy of Henry David Thoreau to frame and interpret the life and actions of Christopher McCandless in his non-fiction narrative "Into the Wild".
What are the central themes discussed in the study?
The central themes include the influence of transcendentalism, the romanticized view of wilderness, opposition to market economy and materialism, and the act of civil disobedience.
What is the main goal or research question?
The goal is to determine if Krakauer's portrayal of McCandless as a "Thoreauvian" transcendentalist is an objective analysis or a constructed, romanticized narrative interpretation.
Which scientific method is utilized in this paper?
The paper employs a literary analysis method, examining primary sources from McCandless and the works of Thoreau, while evaluating the narrative techniques used by Krakauer.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the biographical background of both McCandless and Thoreau, analyzes specific instances where Thoreau’s ideas are applied in the text, and critiques the differences between the two figures.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Transcendentalism, Henry David Thoreau, Christopher McCandless, Into the Wild, Wilderness, and Romanticism.
Does the author of the paper agree with Krakauer’s depiction of McCandless?
The paper suggests that while Krakauer's portrayal is effective for the narrative, it is a subjective interpretation that often ignores pragmatic differences between McCandless and Thoreau.
How did McCandless's actions in his final days contradict the "Thoreauvian" image?
The paper points out that McCandless signed his distress signal with his real name and noted that "happiness is only real when shared," indicating a departure from the isolated "Thoreauvian" ideal.
- Citar trabajo
- Marc Felsbrecher (Autor), 2014, The Influence of Henry David Thoreau's Philosophy in Jon Krakauer's Novel “Into the Wild”, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/307096
