Desire of Freedom: Chris wants to be in a place where there aren't any rules for him to follow. It is shown that he didn't like when people told him what to do especially his father. When he was talking with Gallien, Chris said that he hated the government's rules; that he won't get a hunting license because it is not the government's business what he is eating. Also, Chris wants freedom from people. He doesn't develop many friendships with anyone because of this. He believes that the "ultimate freedom" requires total isolation so that you don't have obligations to others. Chris lived for his own best interests.
Separation: This can be seen with his separation from his family in the beginning of his journey but also through his separation from society. Chris didn't have morals and views that matched those of societies and as a result left to find a place of his own to fit in. He believed in living off the land and that materialistic goods were not important.
Learning: This entire book is about learning and discovering something greater then what can be taught. It must be learned and that is what Chris was trying to understand and accomplish in the wild.
Forgiveness: This stems from not being able to forgive his parents for their mistakes and makes his hatred towards society even greater. Resulting in the decision to go on this adventure and sparking the rest of the themes throughout the story.
Settings in Into the Wild:
This book follows the travels of Chris McCandless mostly in the western portion of the United States, as well as in Alaska, Mexico, and Virginia. The events in the book span various years but most important events take place in the 1980s and 1990s.
This is Chris McCandless' house growing up. I don't think that he considered it his home like his family did since he was quick to leave and never had an interest in going back.
This is the gran elevator that Alex Supertramp (Chris) worked at, owned by Wayne Westerburg.
He was in the Stampede Trail, near Mt. McKinley. He settled in Bus 142, a vehicle located twenty-five miles west of Healy. Magic Bus 142 is where Chris found his home, he created it into a place that he could live. Unfortunately this was where he died.
I think it is interesting to see where he begins, where he travels and where he ends up. I do a piece about sense of place in the first part of the story when he is living on the fringe of society.
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