Final answer:
Chris McCandless, before venturing into the Alaskan wilderness as detailed in Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild, was a college graduate from a privileged background who chose to seek a minimalist lifestyle in nature, akin to Thoreau's experience in Walden.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before the events described in Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild, Chris McCandless lived a life marked by what many would consider success and opportunity. He was a college graduate, coming from a well-to-do family, exhibiting intelligence and athleticism. However, in stark contrast to his comfortable upbringing, he sought a life of minimalism and self-reliance, a path that eventually led him to the Alaskan wilderness. McCandless's story is often compared to that of Henry David Thoreau's experience in Walden, as both share themes of rejecting societal norms and seeking solitude to find a deeper meaning in life.