Final answer:
Jon Krakauer was drawn to Doug Hansen because Hansen's personal struggles and determination reminded Krakauer of his own father, creating a strong empathetic connection between them.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to Jon Krakauer's motivation for feeling a particular affinity to Doug Hansen in the context of their Mount Everest expedition. In the book Into Thin Air, Krakauer is drawn to Hansen more than the other climbers because of a specific reason that resonates with him personally. The correct answer is: b) Doug reminds Krakauer of his own father.
Doug Hansen was a postal service worker who was attempting to climb Everest a second time after failing to reach the summit the prior year. Krakauer saw Hansen's determination and everyman background as inspirational, reflecting a profound sense of commonality, rooted from an empathetic connection often sought in human relationships. This connection is characterized by the struggle, resilience, and personal challenges that Krakauer identified within Hansen and potentially saw reflections of in his own experiences with his father.
Their relationship is steeped in a mutual understanding of the personal costs and sacrifices made in pursuit of monumental goals, which is why Krakauer felt a deeper connection to Hansen than to other members of the expedition.