Anti materialistic journey in Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild

Abstract

This research Into the Wild by Jon Kraukauer attempts to show a reaction against materialism through a vivid portrayal of experiences of a teenager, Christopher Johnson McCandless. It is an attempt to show how he leaves his wealthy life behind, goes into the wilderness and ends up there. he gives up his life in quest of spirituality through wilderness. he makes his journey not easier but more difficult which begins with a very minimal material possession. Leaving everything behind, his wealth, his family and friends, he disappears into the unknown wilderness. The real issue that this research intends to answer is what are the reasons that push a young fellow far from family, companions and so called high class society and pick wilderness? The primary purpose of this exploration is not to scrutinize the consequences of McCandless's life and choices he makes but to investigate why McCandless pick wilderness as an escape from American standard society and if he can discover the feeling of having peace and self-delight. Despite the fact that he is from apparently well-off family and accomplished as well, he leaves all those just to wander into the wilderness and tries to make his life meaningful. To McCandless everything in nature is to a great degree valuable, might be even sacred.

The quest of happiness and satisfaction runs throughout this novel. The research discovers his voyage to edify himself through isolation and contact of nature. The principle character desserts everything and looks for nature with the goal that he can discover the feeling of self-gratification.