Even though he is raised in the city environment, the adventurous young

McCandless decides nature suits him best. He recalls a time when “I was out on the

ocean in a canoe, and I almost drowned when a storm came up” (Krakauer 5).

McCandless has experienced many trials in his young life and still yearns for more. He

has no fear of what may happen to him, but just enjoys what is happening. He writes

“I’ve decided that I’m going to live this life for some time to come. The freedom and

simple beauty of it is just too good to pass up”(92). In this postcard, Chris declares that

he will be living this new lifestyle for a while. He indicates his love for the lack of

restrictions nature has to offer. He advises his friend Ron to not “hesitate or make

excuses. Just get out and do it” (58). These are the words young McCandless lives by and

suggests his friend to as well. He doesn’t pause to think about anything but the moment

he is living in. This daring young man concludes that instead of the urban setting he was

raised in, nature is what he is better off living in.

Chris McCandless, as a result of his upbringing is independent and demonstrates

this throughout his journey. During his adventure, McCandless hitchhikes from a man

who he assures, “I’ll be fine with what I’ve got” (6). He likes to rely on others as little as

possible, and to rely on himself as much as he can. The man offered to aid him even more

but he denied. He also informs the man, “I won’t run into anything I can’t deal with on

my own” (6). McCandless is confident in his abilities out in nature. He truly believes he

will survive on is own and not run into trouble. The man then remembers, “There was

just no taking the guy out of it. He was determined. Real gung go” (6). This man recalled

the excitement in Chris to venture out. He sensed the strong-mindedness of him and his

unwavering character. This young man illustrates how self-governing he is throughout his

quest.

It soon became apparent to this reader why the young McCandless chose to rebel

against his family, in particular his father. Walt McCandless offers this insight into

Chris’s personality, that “If you attempted to talk him out of something, he wouldn’t

argue. He’d just nod politely and then do exactly what he wanted” (118). Chris was a

very strong-minded person and followed his own rules. During the summer of Chris’s

Junior year of college, he discovered that “Long after falling in love with Billie, long

after she gave birth to Chris, Walt continued his relationship with Marcia in secret,

dividing his time between two households, two families”(121). After this finding, Chris

would never see his father in the same light. He became isolated and even more detached

from his parents than previously. It is clear as to the reason for the young McCandless’s

defiant behavior towards his family, especially his father.