Who is Christopher McCandless? McCandless was born on February 12, 1968, in El Segundi, California. Later, thanks to Walt McCandless, Christopher's father, success as an aerospace engineer "[Christopher] grew up in the comfortable, upper-middle-class surroundings of Annandale, Virginia" (Krakauer 14). Like many people today, Walt McCandless made damaging decisions; When Christopher and his sister Carine were born, Walt was still married. In turn, this leaves them to be bastard children. Christopher was an intellectual who sought to challenge himself. He was a successful cross-country runner who led the team on paths where they often got lost (.info web). Not only was he motivated, but he had a deep respect for his favorite authors, Jack London, Leo Tolstoy and Henry Thoreau. In which they strongly influenced him throughout his life. “Immediately after graduating cum laude from Emory University in the summer of 1990, [Christopher] McCandless disappeared out of sight” (Krakauer np). McCandless yearned for something akin to a rebirth. Which led him to “no longer respond to Chris McCandless,” but now to “Alexander Supertramp” (Krakauer 23). There have been several turning points in Chris's life. For example, when Chris disappeared after college, changed his name, donated a total balance of twenty-four thousand dollars to charity, abandoned his car, hooked up with strangers and s finally ventured into the wild. Much like a religious extremist, Chris had a scrupulous moral code. “He tended to see things in black and white” (Krakauer 122). Thanks to his glasses, Chris had been a failure, a failure by anyone who didn't live up to his expectations, his parents and society. Moreover, people...... middle of paper ......9. Questia School. Internet. April 16, 2014.Eden, Amanda. “Exist in Existentialism.” ace of hearts11. Np, November 10, 2011. Web. April 15, 2014. .Heffernan, Cheyenne. “A reckless narcissist or an extreme idealist?” : A reckless narcissist or an extreme idealist?. Np, October 28, 2010. Web. April 15, 2014. Krakauer, Jon. In nature. New York: Anchor Books, 1997. Print. McClintock, James I. The Strong Truths of Jack London. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State UP, 1997. Questia School. Internet. April 16, 2014. Sexton, Adam. CliffsNotes on Into the Wild. April 15, 2014. Tolstoy, Leo. The Life and Teachings of Leo Tolstoy: A Book of Excerpts. London: Grant Richards, 1904. Questia School. Internet. April 16. 2014.