Characterization Chart

English Character Chart

Author’s Note

1.     “He changed his name, gave the entire balance of a twenty four thousand dollar savings account to charity abandoned his car and most of his possesions, burned all the cash in his wallet.” (1)

-         In this quote it describes how Chris began his new life and entered the wild, without any materialistic things or destractions.

2.     “His name turned out to be Christopher John McCandless.” (1)

-         This quote is Jon Krakaeur talking about Chris’ real name, which later became important in the book.

Chapter 1

1.      “He didn’t appear very old: eighteen, maybe nineteen at most. A rifle protruded from the young man’s backpack, but he looked friendly enough;” (3-4)

-This is a description of Chris on the road, from a person who gave him a ride early on in his journey.

2.      “Five foot seven or five foot eight with a wiry build, he claimed to be twenty four years old and said he was from South Dakota.” (4)

-         This is another description of Chris as a hitchhiker trying to get a ride.

Chapter 2

1.      “It wasn’t until I walked around the other side and saw a head sticking out that I knew for certain what it was” (13)

-         This is a description of how Chris’ body was found in a sleeping bag.

2.     “this is Butch . You better call the troopers. There’s a man back in the bus by the Sushana. Looks he’s been dead for a while.” (13)

After the hunters found Chris’ body they called the troopers and estimated it had been there for a long time.

Chapter 3

1.      “McCandless was smallish with the hard, stringy physique of an itinerant laborer. There was something arresting about the yougnster’s eyes.” (16)

-         This is another description later on in Chris’ journey.

2.     “He was nearsighted and wore steel rimmed glasses. He looked hungry” (17)

Chapter 4

1.      “Ignoring posted warnings that off- road driving is strictly forbidden, McCandless steered the Datsun off the pavement where it crossed a broad, sandy wash.” (27)

This is describing what Chris did when he entered the Detrimental Wash area.

2.     “ He was wearing long shorts and a really stupid hat,” says Jan Burress , a forty one year old rubber tramp…”(30)

This is a description told by Jan Burress a person Chris befriended on his journey, who played almost a mother character to him later on.

Chapter 5

1.      “When his camera was ruined and McCandless stopped taking photographs, he also stopped keeping a journal, a practice he didn’t resume until he went to Alaska the next year.” (38)

-         This quote tells us that Chris’ journey was not all photographs and at a time was not even recorded in a journal.

2.     “When he first started working he was homeless and he’d show up for work smelling bad.  It wasn’t up to McDonald’s standards to come in smelling the way he did.” (41)

-         This quote is a description of Chris when he worked at a McDonalds for sometime, eventually he quit his job though.

Chapter 6

1.      “McCandless cut him off abruptly. “Look Mr. Franz,” he declared, “you don’t need to worry about me  I have a college education. Im not destitute. I’m living like this by choice.” (51)

-         Franz plays a very big part in McCandless journey and influences him a lot, this quote is an example of McCandless independence while he was on the road.

2.     “Don’t hesitate or allow yourself to make excuses. Just get out and do it. Just get out and do it. You will be very, very glad that you did.” (58)

-         This tells us that McCandless influenced Franz a lot in this letter he wrote to him.

Chapter 7

1.      “I guess I’m getting a little snarly it being so late in the season and all, and us being short-handed besides. We was counting on Alex being back at work by now.” Fifty days have gone by since McCandless ‘s body was discovered in Alaska on the Stampede Trail.” (62)

-         This is a quote from Wayne Westberg, another person Chris worked for and grew close to. He was expecting Chris to come visit, but was saddened by his death.

2.     “He was kind of shy at first,” says Borah. “He acted like it was hard for him to be around people. I just figured that was because he’d spent so much time by himself.” (63)

-         This is a description of Chris’ attitude and personality while working with other employ’s.

Chapter 10

1.      “A head shot . His hair was long and he had a beard.Chris almost always had short hair and was clean shaven. And the face in the picture was extremely gaunt. But I knew right away. There was no doubt. It was Chris.”(102)

-         Sam, a friend of Chris’ family realized the missing boy was Chris’ and realized he would have to bring home the horrible news about Chris’ death.

2.     "It didn’t occur to me that the hiking might be Chris. Never even crossed my mind. Its ironic because when I read the article I thought, ‘Oh my God what a terrible tragedy. I really felt sorry for the family of this guy, whoever they are. What a sad story.” (101)

-         Sam realizes that he needs to tell the family about his death.

Chapter 11

1.      “The hardest part is simply not having him around anymore. I spent a lot of time with Chris, perhaps more than with any of my other kids. I really like his company even though he frustrated us so often.”(104)

-         This is a quote from Chris’ dad on how he missed having him around.

2.     “Even when he was little,” says Carrine, who was born three years after Chris, “he was very to himself. He wasn’t antisocial he always had friends and everybody liked him…” (107)

-         Carrine, Chris’ younger sister is describing his personality throughout his life.

Chapter 12

1.      “Chris had tossed back a few drinks that night and was pretty blitzed. He got real emotional. He was almost crying. Fighting back the tears telling dad that even though they’d had their over the years, he was grateful for all the things Dad had done for him. Chris said how much he respected Dad for starting from nothing, working his way through college, busting his butt to support eight kids.” (118)

-         From this quote it is learned that even though Chris lost respect for his father, he did care about him and in some ways appreciated him.

2.     “I saw Chris at a party after his sophomore year at Emory” remembers Eric Hathaway, “and it was obvious he had changed. He seemed introverted, almost cold.” (120)

-         This is a description of Chris’ attitude during his last year in college, before he left for good, it is by an old friend.

Chapter 13

1.      “Whats amazing” says Carrine as she studies these images of her brother “is that even though the pictures were taken ten years apart, his expression is identical.” (128)

-         Carrine, tells of how Chris had mostly the same attitude throughout his life.

2.     “The label was printed wrong. The label said Christopher R. McCandless. His middle initial was really J. It ticked me off that they didn’t get it right. I was mad. Then I thought Chris wouldn’t care. He would think its funny.” (130)

-         This is a quote from when Chris’ ashes were taken home and how he would have found it funny that his name was spelled wrong because he had a sense of humor in hard times.

Chapter 18

1.     “He noted, happiness only real when shared.”(189)

-         These are some of Chris’ last words, showing that in some ways he regrets leaving people, like family behind.

2.      “Extremely weak fault of pot. seed. Much trouble just to stand up. Starving. Great Jeopardy.” (189)

-         These are words Chris wrote during his final days and the pain he endured.

After reading Into the Wild, I have come to the conclusion that Chris McCandless was an inexperienced and unprepared person to want to live in Alaska on his own. He made a very bad descision in doing so. Chris was very unprepared and had no idea what he was doing. This did not make Chris a hero and he shouldn’t have been recognized as that for doing this.