Final Answer:
In "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer, it is revealed to Franz that Chris McCandless had died by Jim Gallien, the truck driver who gave McCandless a ride to the Stampede Trail. Gallien learns about McCandless's death when he reads about it in the newspaper.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild," the revelation of Chris McCandless's death is a pivotal moment in the narrative. Jim Gallien, the truck driver who initially gave McCandless a ride to the Stampede Trail in Alaska, discovers McCandless's fate through a newspaper article. This moment highlights the isolation and tragic end of McCandless's journey, as news of his demise reaches the people he encountered along the way.
Gallien's realization of McCandless's death underscores the impact of McCandless's story on those who briefly crossed paths with him. It also serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of McCandless's quest for solitude and self-discovery in the unforgiving wilderness. The newspaper article acts as a bridge between the isolated world McCandless sought and the interconnected reality from which he tried to escape, bringing his journey full circle in a tragic and unexpected way.
This revelation adds a layer of retrospection to the narrative, prompting readers to reflect on the choices McCandless made and the impact of those choices on the people he encountered during his ill-fated adventure. Gallien's discovery of McCandless's death serves as a narrative device that connects the disparate threads of the story and contributes to the overall theme of self-discovery and its inherent risks.