Chapter 1-3 Meeting Notes
Into the Wild
February 17, 2010
Book starts at the end with his death…
Did he want to die or know he was going to die when he entered the wild?
Very ill-equipped for his journey.
Relationships:
Parents
Sister
Friends along the way
Himself
Car symbolized his ideas of loyalty, ethic of loyalty, earned loyalty, and respect.
Three items he gave to the man who dropped him at the trail:
1. Watch- “I don’t want to know what time it is. I don’t want to know what day it is or where I am. None of that
matters.” Simplicity, be lead by nature, sun comes up sun goes down, shelter blocks sun, circadian rhythm
(internal clock), society: 9-5 jobs, lunchtime 12-1. Work week: Monday – Friday.
2. Comb- beauty prep, looking “decent,” expected hygiene, he doesn’t care what he looks like, and doesn’t
care what people think he looks like.
3. Money (85 cents) – financial security, status, tool (gifts), buy your trust, respect. Why did the author
include the exact amount? To show he had little?
Declined acceptance to Phi Beta Kappa in college – “Titles and honors are irrelevant”
IRONY
-Gave 24K to Oxfam America to help fight world hunger, later died of starvation
-He disappeared, wanted to be off the map. Then there is a best selling novel/movie about him.
GIFTS
- Says when given boots, “How much do I owe you?” He doesn’t have anything to give at this point? That is
what you say when someone gives you something. Learned response?
-Won’t accept gifts from parents, but will from strangers including place to stay, food, boots, job, rides.
Community is important, but doesn’t want things he doesn’t need or want, he will take gifts but will not if
“they will think they have bought my respect.” Accepts when no strings are attached.
Stubborn: with lots of warning, he still proceeds.
Does he want to die?
Does he believe he can survive off the bare minimum?
NAME
-Name significance - Alexander super tramp
Rubber tramps: live in the car, travel in the car
Leather tramp: hitchhike by foot
Super tramp: ultimate adventurer, into the wild
-Character progression with his name:
Chris Mccandless
Alex Mccandless
“Alex, just Alex”
Alex Supertramp
- Alex? Why Alexander?
Known Alexanders: Alexander the Great, Alexander Hamilton, Alexander Graham Bell
Alaska Magazine
“The good life” – society builds up but still society projects the good life to be surburban. The good ole days.
to be land, farm, the American dream, starting your own business…but their our corporations…
Significance/Relevance to Quotes in the beginning of each Chapter:
-Chapter 1:
Quote – final letter to friend, goodbye,
Chapter – him saying goodbye to the guy that picks him up. – stepping out, final human interaction
-Chapter 2:
Quotes – jack London quote – Alaska being barren and desolate lifeless, dead
Chapter – Alaska swallowing people, defeats us, tried to develop but cant, cold, dead, and then he
dies. Unforgiving
-Chapter 3
Quotes: excitement of life, danger, surprises, freedom
Chapter – carthage, his home, where he his coming from (school, family, his last days before his
adventure), comparisons of life in society but the differences of each.
Russia connections:
Tolstoy, drink – white Russian, communism – no classes, Alaska geography, environment similar to northern
Russia
August:
When he left college he left in june, had mail held at post office until august 1
At his death, he was found in early September, but most likely dies end of august.
In sos note says “August?”
August end of summer, transitions to fall, fall another term for death. Leaves fall, trees are barren.