Question

The trip was to be an odyssey in the fullest sense of the word,

an epic journey that would change everything. [McCandless]
had spent the previous four years, as he saw it, preparing to
fulfill an absurd and onerous duty: to graduate from college. At
long last he was unencumbered, emancipated from the stifling
world of his parents and peers, a world of abstraction and
security and material excess, a world in which he felt grievously
cut off from the raw throb of existence.
Speakers:
Related character(s):

Answer 1

The texts explore themes of self-discovery and nonconformity as characters like Chris McCandless in Into the Wild and Henry David Thoreau in Walden choose solitude over societal norms. A comparison of Krakauer's and Thoreau's literary elements reveals themes of freedom and critiques of material excess, reflecting on what constitutes a meaningful life.

Step-by-step explanation:

The excerpts presented here deal with individuals who have intentionally chosen to live on the margins of society, exploring themes of self-discovery, nonconformity, and critiques of materialism. These narratives examine the varied reasons and implications behind the characters' decisions to embrace solitude and live off the grid. For example, Chris McCandless's story in Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild and Henry David Thoreau's philosophy in Walden both reflect a profound disconnection with societal norms and a yearning for a more authentic existence. The complex interplay between personal autonomy, societal obligations, and individual happiness is a recurring motif in these accounts. They challenge the reader to consider their own relationship with society and the natural world.

When you compare Krakauer's and Thoreau's use of literary elements and delve into the historical context of the characters' actions, themes such as freedom, the purity of nature, and the constraints of civilization can be identified. McCandless's venture into the Alaskan wilderness and Thoreau's experiment in simple living express a critique of the material excess and raise questions about what constitutes a meaningful life.

The characters' explorations of solitary human behavior and their transformative journeys resonate with broader cultural communities and social conversations about the balance between individualism and community, as well as the costs and rewards of societal dropout.