Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Bachelor of Arts in English
Advisor
Margaret Case, Ph.D.
Abstract
This thesis analyzes Into the Wild’s Christopher McCandless, a seemingly flawless Romantic who travels into the lost acres of Alaska. McCandless abandons society by latching onto the Romantic ideal that one must surround one’s self in nature to find truth beyond materialism. However, he disregards ideals that balance the Romantic equation.With no intention of returning to society, McCandless unwittingly embodies the hyper-individualist lifestyle from which he is trying to escape, ultimately leading to his death. Looking at McCandless through a lens of sustainability reveals the complicated interrelationships between Man and Nature.
Recommended Citation
Sasso, Jessica, "Seeking Balance: A Sustainability Framework Analysis of Into The Wild" (2012). English Theses. 92.
https://docs.rwu.edu/english_theses/92
