Question

Krakauer goes onto to relate the story of another young man who disappeared into the wild: Everett Ruess, a hitchhiker and photographer who pursued beauty and adventure throughout the American Southwest during the 1930s. During his journey, Ruess changes his name several times, until he wanders into Davis Gulch, where he inscribes his new name "Nemo," Latin for "nobody," into the sandstone, before disappearing.

It is widely held that Ruess fell to his death while climbing the region’s crumbly canyon walls, but no human remains are ever recovered. Some believe that Ruess continued to live in secret by assuming an alternate identity, while others theorize that cattle rustlers murdered Ruess for his belongings. A local river guide suggests that Ruess drowned while trying to swim across a river.
Ruess and McCandless’ lives, deaths and "hunger of the spirit," remind Krakauer of the papar, ancient Irish monks who sailed to a remote island off the coast of Iceland in search of peace and solitude.
What does Everett Reuss choose to change his name to, and ultimately carve into sandstone, and why?

Answer 1

Everett Ruess changes his name to "Nemo" and carves it into sandstone, which is Latin for "nobody."

Step-by-step explanation:

Everett Ruess, captivated by the allure of beauty and adventure in the American Southwest during the 1930s, undergoes a profound transformation that culminates in the adoption of the name "Nemo," meaning "nobody" in Latin.

This choice is symbolic of Ruess's desire to detach himself from conventional identities and societal expectations. By inscribing "Nemo" into the sandstone of Davis Gulch, Ruess signals his commitment to a life of anonymity and solitude, rejecting the constraints of a defined self.

The act of changing his name multiple times on his journey suggests a search for self-discovery and a rejection of societal norms. "Nemo" becomes a manifestation of Ruess's hunger for a deeper, more authentic connection with nature and the spiritual realm.

The carving into the sandstone serves as a tangible declaration of his quest for personal liberation and a testament to the transient nature of identity.

The mystery surrounding Ruess's disappearance and the ambiguity of his fate add layers of complexity to his story.

Whether he fell to his death, assumed a new identity, or met an unfortunate end at the hands of others, the legacy of "Nemo" endures as a symbol of the insatiable hunger for spiritual fulfillment and the quest for a life beyond the constraints of societal expectations, drawing parallels to the ancient Irish monks, the papar, who sought solitude in a remote island in their pursuit of spiritual peace.