Final answer:
Alex McCandless from 'Into the Wild' by Jon Krakauer is from the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and sought a solitary existence in the Alaskan wilderness akin to Henry David Thoreau's experiences in 'Walden.'
Step-by-step explanation:
In Jon Krakauer's narrative nonfiction book Into the Wild, the protagonist, Alex McCandless, is originally from the affluent suburbs of Washington, D.C.
The story chronicles McCandless's journey as he leaves his life behind to live in the Alaskan wilderness, an experience to which Krakauer draws parallels with Henry David Thoreau's Walden.
Like Thoreau, McCandless sought a solitary existence far removed from society, motivated by a desire to find a deeper meaning in life and challenge himself in a rugged environment.