Ignorance In Into The Wild

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John Krakauer’s nonfiction novel Into the Wild recounts the harrowing journey of a lone drifter and his adventurous trek into the Alaskan wilderness. Chris McCandless, a recent college graduate, sells his possessions and cuts ties with his affluent and controlling parents to live a nomadic existence in the remote outback. As Krakauer’s biographic narrative develops, the author reveals a theme of ignorance and arrogance illustrated by McCandless’ series of uninformed and prideful choices that eventually lead to his demise. Krakauer first unveils the protagonist’s blatant unpreparedness and over-confidence as Chris embarks on his journey, hitching a ride to Denali Park from local Jim Gallien, an experienced hunter and woodsman. Gallien, alarmed by McCandless’ lack of critical supplies needed for his journey, “trie[s] repeatedly to dissuade him,” even offering to buy the young man proper equipment, to which Chris conceitedly replies, ‘“I’ll be fine with what I’ve got...I won’t run into anything I can’t deal with on my own”’ (Krakauer 5-6). Tragically misled by the notion he possesses both the supplies and knowledge needed to travel into the perilous wild, Chris puts himself at risk before his journey begins. Ignorance regarding the proper provisions, paired with arrogance in not heeding Gallien’s …show more content…

Declaring McCandless “rash and incautious by nature,“ he speculates Chris “committed a careless blunder, mistaking one plant for another, and died as a consequence” (192). Had Chris taken the time to thoroughly educate himself on the sustenance of the area before he ventured out, he may not have ingested the toxic vegetation. The last in a string of tragically uneducated and careless choices, McCandless once again demonstrates the lack of due diligence required to sustain himself in the unfamiliar Alaskan

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