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Took up Running
"He'd tell us to think about all the evil in the world, all the hatred, and imagine ourselves running against the forces of darkness, the evil wall that was trying to keep us from running our best." (p.112) By taking up running, McCandless allowed a vital part of his personality to shine through. This symbolizes Alex's sense of morality in that McCandless, disgusted with the hatred in the world, uses this disgust to be productive and amazing in what he does. -
Graduated from Emory University
"In May 1990, Chris graduated from Emory University in Atlanta, where he'd been a columnist for, and editor of, the student newspaper; The Emory Wheel, and had distinguished himself a a history and anthropology major with a 3.72 grade-point average." (p.20) This symbolized the end of McCandless's accordance with the expected path. After this, Alex donates his money, moves out, and starts his journey across the United States. -
The Beginning of an Era
"He could simply abandon the Datsun and resume his odyssey on foot...McCandless was exhilerated: He saw the flahs flood as an opportunity to shed unnecessary baggage." (p.29) McCandless signified his commitment and enthusiasm for his journey. By abandoning his car and some possesions at Lake Mead, Colorado, McCandless freed himself for the journey ahead. -
Jan Burres
"'Hey, you want a ride somewhere?' I thought maybe we could give him a meal or something." (p.30) Jan took Alex in when she saw him struggling and obviously hungry. Jan met Alex on his journey and took him in because of regrets remaining with her own son. Jan was sympathetic and kind to Alex and represented kindness in an otherwise brutal world. (Arcata, California) -
Bob
"'Man, we got to take this kid with us. You need to school him about some things.'" (p.30) Bob was a mentor to McCandless and boyfriend to Jan Burres. The relationship is reminiscent of what I can imagine that of Thoreau and Emerson was. Bob did calisthenics with Alex and helped him by teaching him more about surviving in nature. -
Wayne Westerberg
"On the afternoon of September 10, driving out of Cut Bank after buying some parts for a malfunctioning combine, he pulled over for a hitchhiker, an amiable kid who said his name was Alex McCandless." (p.16) McCandless formed a bond with Westenberg from Carthage, South Dakota, who gave Alex a job at his grain elevator and housed him. Westerberg was the first one to back McCandless without question on his journey. -
Carthage, South Dakota
"'Was only a couple of weeks that went by before Alex showed up in town,' Westerberg remembers. He gave McCandless employment at the grainelevator and rented him a cheap room in one of the two houses he owned." (p.17) This part of Alex's journey shows his disconnect with his biological family, in that he seemed to adopt his coworkers as family. This also show's Alex's reason in that he came back to work (and hard at that) when he knew he needed to. -
Mexico/ Mex/Tex Border
"On December 2, he reached the Morelos Dam and the Mexican border. Worried that he would be denied entry because he was carrying no identification, he sneaked into Mexico by paddling through the dam's open floodgates and shooting the spillway below." (p.34) This part of Alex's journey represents his spontaneous character. Alex takes consequences for his mistakes, like travelling a bad route, but gets himself out of situations that he can. -
Charlie
"...I was shaving in a restrooom when an old man came in, observing me, and asked me if I was 'sleeping out.' I told him yes, and it turned out that he had this old trailer I could stay in for free." (p.41) Charlie, although only briefly mentioned, provided Alex with temptation to stay in Bullhead. Although not purposely, the deal Charlie offered Alex along with the promise of a steady job at McDonalds seemed to help make Alex stay there for a longer period than typical for him. -
Bullhead City, Arizona
"McCandless...took a strong liking to Bullhead...perhaps he simply fell in love with the stark desert landscape that encircles the town." (p.39) Bullhead symbolizes a wavering in Alex's adventurous ways. Alex actually settles down for two months, getting a job as a frycook at McDonalds and staying at his first semi-permanent residence. Alex even sends a postcard to Jan and Bob with a return address, almost allowing them to visit until he tires of the sedentary life and goes to see them instead. -
Slabs Campsite in Niland, California
"When McCandless arrived at the Slabs, a huge flea market-swap... Burres, as one of the vendors, had set up some folding tables displaying cheap, mostly secondhand goods for sale, and McCandless volunteered to oversee her large inventory of used paperback books." (p.43) Alex's trip to Niland represents the youthful, hopeful, innocent side of him. Alex's free personality is outlined as he flirts and takes in as much socialization as possible. Alex seems to be storing up socialization. -
Salton City, California
"After McCandless bid farewell to Jan Burres at the Salton City Post Office, he hiked into the desert and set up camp in a brake of creosote at the edge of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park." This location symbolizes Alex's deep affect on all he knew. Alex grew so close to Ron Franz that Franz asked to adopt Alex. This relationship symbolizes the functional family that both men were missing in their lives. -
Ronald A. Franz
"One Thursday in mid-January, McCandless was hitching back out to the bajada after filling his jug when an old man, name of Ron Franz, stopped to give him a ride." (p.49) Franz was arguably one of the most important people met by Alex on his journey. Franz became so close and important to Alex that he delayed his amazing trip to Alaska. Franz longed to adopt Alex, as he had lost his wife and only son years before. Franz represent pure temptation, the temptation of staying comfortable. -
The Stampede Trail; The Last Step
"Alex pulled out his crude map and pointed to a dashed red line that interseced the road near the coal-mining town of Healy. It represented a route called the Stampede Trail." (p.5) The Stampede Trail on the surface represents the end for Alex. This is where Alex last lived, where he perished. Upon further investigation though, one can also see this trail as the beginning of a new journey for Alex, life completely independant, his dream finally becoming a reality. -
Jim Gallien
"Jim Gallien had driven four miles out of Fairbanks when he spotted the hitchhiker standing in the snow beside the road, thumb raised high, shivering in the gray Alaska dawn." (p.3) Jim Gallien was the last to see Alex before he went 'into the wild.' Gallien tried his best to help Alex, offering money, gear, and food. Alex accepted only some of these gifts, but none of the advice. Gallien signifies McCandless's complete parting with the material world in which he grew up.
