McCandless and Poe, Dickinson and Thoreau

 Comparing and analyzing "Into the Wild" and Romantic writers

                                     

What similarities and differences do you observe between McCandless and romantic writers like Poe, Dickinson, or Thoreau? 

The similarities and differences that I observe between McCandless and romantic writers are that both touch and focus on themes about life, death, nature, society, and love. A great example for comparing this story is with the book "Walden" by Henry Thoreau. Both are based on finding the meaning of life, providing us an explanation of Chris McCandless's beliefs about material possessions. We enjoy life living without our material possessions and embracing a more natural existence. McCandless, like Thoreau, escapes from societal norms and connects with the wilderness. In terms of Edgar Allen Poe and Emily Dickinson, explore romantic themes like solitary and soul-searching. The objective of McCandless' journey in favor of a solitary life he found exhilarating, going into the wilderness of Alaska, is to seek deeper and understand himself being alone. Just like Poe and Dickinson they embrace the experience of being alone and search for something meaningful.  However, there are notorious differences between McCandless and romantic writers. The writers write the themes mentioned before in a melancholic style, while Chris McCandless is on his way to fulfilling his ideas in an adventurous and risky way. This includes the physical and mental challenges he had to go through to find the meaning of life. Although both see nature as inspiration and wisdom, the writers didn't need to go through the wilderness to approve it,  left behind loving families, set a plan without knowing that any destination awaited, and avoided intimate or even close relationships with women. 

How do these comparisons enhance our understanding of McCandless's story?

These comparisons enhance our understanding of McCandless's story by observing the different points of view and how he was distinct from any of the people he met and from his family. To see where his philosophical and intellectual ideas came from and influenced his thinking. To understand why people did not convince him to leave his journey and convince himself that he could achieve satisfying results, the romantic writers gave us an idea of what could have been his kind of motivation (search for meaning, the rejection of societal norms, and more). Also, in the comparison of McCandless's story and the themes romantic writers focus on, we can determine that material possessions can change someone's life by not taking advantage of what life and nature give you. Romanticizing life can open doors to what is really happening in life and face them. But also, gives us an idea that there might be people like him.