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who is the hitchhiker in into the wild

by Muhammad Ortiz Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Christopher Johnson McCandless

Full Answer

What does Gallien think of Alex?

What does Gallien try to dissuade Alex from doing?

Why is Alex on the drive so charming?

Where does Gallien drop Alex off?

Why is the postcard to Wayne prophetic?

What does Gallien's suspicion of Chris reflect?

What does Chris' lack of preparation mean?

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What killed Chris in Into the Wild?

starvationForced to continue on a substandard diet, he weakened and died in mid-August. His body, which weighed only 67 pounds (30.4 kg), was discovered by hunters on September 6. The cause of death was officially reported as starvation.

What is the name of the man who picked up the hitchhiking McCandless four miles out of Fairbanks Alaska and what did he do for a living?

On April 28, 1992, McCandless is picked up by Jim Gallien, who then drops him off outside Denali National Park. McCandless then follows a faded snowmobile track into the park. He wades easily across the Teklanika River, which is at a winter low. He falls through the ice at one point along his way but emerges intact.

Why did Chris change his name to Alex?

Chris McCandless changes his name to Alexander Supertramp in the book Into the Wild as a demonstration of independence from his past; he also burns his Social Security Card and gives up his possessions. He created a new identity in the hopes that he could become a new person.

Who had a crush on McCandless?

A seventeen-year-old girl, named Tracy, becomes infatuated with McCandless during his stay at the Slabs. the teenager's crush seriously. McCandless is not anti-social, however, insists Jan Burres. During this time, he flirts with her constantly and makes many friends in the camp.

Where does the hitchhiker say he is from?

South DakotaThe hitchhiker says he is from South Dakota and requests a ride to Denali National Park. He then tells the driver, an electrician named Jim Gallien, that he wants to "walk deep into the bush and 'live off the land for a few months.

How long was Chris McCandless dead before found?

In August 1992, Christopher McCandless died in an abandoned bus in the Alaska wilderness after living mostly on squirrels, birds, roots and seeds for 113 days. Hunters found his body weeks later.

Who is the last person to see McCandless alive?

McCandless was then last seen alive at the head of the Stampede Trail on April 28 by a local electrician named Jim Gallien.

How much money did Chris McCandless give away?

Upon graduation from Emory University, McCandless donated his entire life savings, $24,000 to Oxfam America and embarked on an adventure to Alaska where he ultimately meets his fate.

What did Chris do after Westerberg was jailed?

After Westerberg is jailed in September, Chris again seeks the warmer climate of the West. He hitchhikes to Needles, California, then walks through the desert to Topock, Arizona.

Who fell in love with Chris Into the Wild?

Tracy: Tracy was the seventeen-year-old who fell in love Chris McCandless during his week-long visit. She was really attracted to Chris and hung around him so much. Tracy was one of the people he became friends with, along with Jan Burres, as he stayed in Niland.

What did McCandless boss from McDonald's remember about him?

One of his assistant managers remembered he hated to wear socks. McDonald's requires its employees to wear both shoes and socks, so Chris complied, ''but as soon as his shift was over, bang!-- The first thing he'd do is peel those socks off. . . Kind of like a statement, to let us know we didn't own him.

Is Into the Wild Based on a true story?

Into the Wild, the 1996 book by Jon Krakauer, told the true story of Christopher McCandless, a suburban college graduate who, inspired by the wilderness tales of Jack London and Henry David Thoreau, hitchhiked deep into the Alaskan wilderness.

Into the Wild Chapters 1 - 2 Summary & Analysis | SparkNotes

A summary of Chapters 1 - 2 in Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Into the Wild and what it means. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.

Into the Wild: Into the Wild Summary & Analysis Chapter 1 | Book ...

Get free homework help on Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild: book summary, chapter summary and analysis, quotes, essays, and character analysis courtesy of CliffsNotes. Get free homework help on Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild: book summary, chapter summary and analysis, quotes, essays, and character analysis courtesy of CliffsNotes. Into the Wild > retraces the journey of the real-life Christopher ...

Into the Wild Chapter 1 Summary | Course Hero

Summary. Jim Gallien, an electrician, was driving from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Anchorage when he spotted a hitchhiker. The hitchhiker, Chris McCandless, introduced himself as Alex but would not give his last name and misleadingly claimed he was from South Dakota.He explained he was headed for Denali National Park, where he planned to "live off the land," and insisted Gallien take his watch, comb ...

Into the Wild: Chapter 1 Summary | Study.com

This lesson provides an overview of the first chapter of Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild, which tells the story of Christopher Johnson McCandless, who...

In chapter 1 and 2 of Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, what ... - eNotes

Jon Krakauer structures the first two chapters, and most of the book, in an interesting way so as to affect his readers. The description in the book - in other words, the non-dialogue - is written ...

Into the Wild: Full Book Summary | SparkNotes

Into the Wild contains two interconnected plots, one that involves directly represented action and another that involves the careful development of a psychological portrait of Christopher McCandless.The first plot tracks McCandless’s journey into the wild, while the second tracks the development of Krakauer’s, and, implicitly, the reader’s, understanding of McCandless’s character and ...

What does Gallien think of Alex?

Though Gallien suspects “ Alex ” of being a Jack London fanatic, bent on living out his “ill considered fantasies” in the Alaskan wilderness, he agrees to drive him to the park. Gallien also notices that Chris’ backpack is especially light for an extended camping trip.

What does Gallien try to dissuade Alex from doing?

Download. Sensing that “ Alex ” is unprepared, Gallien attempts to dissuade him from hiking alone into the forest. But Chris refuses his advice, declaring that he will handle all obstacles on his own and without the help of anyone, including his family, with whom he has cut ties.

Why is Alex on the drive so charming?

On the drive, “ Alex ” appears to be a charming, well- educated, and adventurous young man because he boasts about nearly dying off the coast of Mexico during a storm. He shows Gallien his “ crude map ” of the national park, pointing out his intended hiking route: the Stampede Trail .

Where does Gallien drop Alex off?

Gallien drops “ Alex ” off on the edge of The Stampede Trail. Chris attempts to give Gallien his watch and loose change, but Gallien implores “Alex” to take his leftover lunch and pair of rubber work-boots, so that his feet will stay warm and dry. Chris reluctantly accepts these gifts and hikes onto the trail.

Why is the postcard to Wayne prophetic?

McCandless’ postcard to Wayne is eerily prophetic because it anticipates Chris’ untimely and tragic death. By suggesting that he won’t be heard from again and that his venture could be “fatal,” Chris broadcasts his willingness to face death and seems to predict his own death, as well as speak from the grave.

What does Gallien's suspicion of Chris reflect?

Gallien’s suspicion of Chris reflects Krakauer’s mistrust of romantic portrayals of the American wilderness, propagated by London’s canon of adventure fiction. Meanwhile, Chris’ lack of suitable supplies shows that he is ill prepared for the hike, suggesting that he is either extremely confident in his camping skills or very naïve about conditions on the trail.

What does Chris' lack of preparation mean?

Chris’ lack of preparation, however, signals that he may not be ready for the life in the Alaskan woods.

What is the opening of Into the Wild?

The opening of Into the Wild establishes a number of narrative expectations and introduces its protagonist, Christopher McCandless. It reveals his objective of living for an extended time in Denali National Park, and also hints at the consequences that may await him. The narration begins through the perspective of a stranger who encounters McCandless on the road, thus offering the reader a chance to evaluate McCandless’s entry into the wild without knowing anything about his fate. The reader is implicitly invited to experience Jim Gallien’s concern for McCandless after he decides to pick up the young hitchhiker, which establishes sympathy for McCandless early in the narrative. In addition, the fact that Gallien does not stop McCandless from heading into the wild and decides that he will be fine strikes a note of tragic irony that will continue throughout the book. Gallien’s attempts to give McCandless what help he can suggests that McCandless will provoke heartache and concern from those who knew him as the story of Into the Wild continues. The arrival of the hunters at the bus to find McCandless’s body inside it at the end of Chapter Two confirms this tragic suspicion.

What does Gallien's attempts to give McCandless suggest?

Gallien’s attempts to give McCandless what help he can suggests that McCandless will provoke heartache and concern from those who knew him as the story of Into the Wild continues. The arrival of the hunters at the bus to find McCandless’s body inside it at the end of Chapter Two confirms this tragic suspicion.

Why don't moose go inside the bus?

The other two have decided not to go inside it because a frighteningly bad smell is emanating from it.

What is the narrative of McCandless?

The narration begins through the perspective of a stranger who encounters McCandless on the road, thus offering the reader a chance to evaluate McCandless’s entry into the wild without knowing anything about his fate.

What does Alex give Gallien?

In exchange for the ride, Alex gives Gallien his few spare possessions, including less than a dollar in change and a plastic comb . Gallien insists that Alex take a pair of his work boots and some extra food his wife has packed for his lunch. He drops Alex off at the edge of the park, on the Stampede Trail.

What do the hunters find in the bus?

Inside the bus, the hunters find a rifle, paperback books, clothing, a backpack, and other supplies. In the back, on a bunk, is a dead body that is so shrunken and small one of the moose hunters at first has trouble determining that it is a person. The reader knows the body to be Christopher McCandless.

What is the opening section of Into the Wild?

The opening section of Into the Wild clarifies the book’s formal technique for the reader. The inclusion of maps shows Christopher McCandless’s geographical location in each chapter, allowing the reader to track his movements and to think through his journey. Krakauer also inserts epigraphs from McCandless’s diary, his reading, and books that Krakauer himself finds of relevant interest at the beginning of each chapter. He sets the expectation that each epigraph can be used as a clue or a thematic hint as to what will be contained in the chapter to follow. Taken together, both maps and epigraphs render Into the Wild what could be called an interactive reading experience. The reader may choose different modes and different forms of documentation through which to encounter and navigate Christopher McCandless’s story. This mimics Krakauer’s journalistic work in assembling that story and also offers a metaphor for the progress of a traveller through an unknown territory. Moreover, Into the Wild ’s evocative and often poetic use of media underlines that it is a literary work as opposed to a work of strictly objective reportage.

Where does McCandless camp?

McCandless sets up camp along the badlands abutting the Salton Sea, not far from a gathering of aging hippies, itinerant and indigent families, nudists, and snowbirds set up in an area they call Oh-My-God Hot Springs. While hitchhiking into town for food and water, he meets Ronald Franz, a retired army veteran who once had a drinking problem.

Where does Franz take McCandless?

After a few weeks, Franz drives McCandless to San Diego, where he lives on the streets before leaving for Seattle, jumping trains to get from place to place. Franz next hears from his friend "Alex" via a collect call; McCandless is back in California. Franz buys him a meal at a local steak house, and McCandless stays with him for a day, after which the older man drives him to Grand Junction, Colorado. Franz tells McCandless that he wants to adopt him. (His own son died years earlier in a car accident.) McCandless evades this request, telling Franz that they'll discuss it when he returns from Alaska.

What river did Chris McCandless walk down?

The Teklanika River is the thing that stood between Chris McCandless making it home to safety and losing his life. It turns out that it is still the most dangerous part of the journey. Even the local fire department chief has tried to make the trip and says he saw three hikers get washed away down the river.

What is the real story behind Into the Wild?

One of the many things that have drawn so many people to the real story behind ‘Into the Wild’ are the photographs that Chris McCandless took along the way. The explorer took plenty of self-portraits and landscape shots that tragically show how weak he grew toward the end of his journey.

Why did Sean Penn wait so long to make into the wild?

Apparently, Sean Penn had to wait for ten years to make his movie ‘Into the Wild’ because he needed to get permission from the entire McCandless family before he could begin filming. Carline? She thinks people know the end of Chris’ story, but few know how it all started.

What was Chris McCandless's last diary?

The last few pages of Chris McCandless’ diary were the ones that documented how desperate the explorer had got for help. The Teklanika River stood in Chris’ way as he tried to forge on with his journey. However, the raging water made it impossible to cross. Even though he was used to trying anything, even Chris knew that he wouldn’t make it to the other side.

Where did Chris McCandless hitchhike?

Chris McCandless hitchhiked his way to Denali National Park from South Dakota. The journey began in April 1992 as Chris hitchhiked from South Dakota to Alaska. Once Chris arrived in Fairbanks, he managed to catch a ride with electrician Jim Gallien as he headed out of town.

What would happen if we knew that answer?

If we knew that answer, the world would be a lot easier – and less predictable. Being so different from one another is part of what makes the world such an incredible place. Just because we prefer one way of life doesn’t mean that everyone else agrees. Chris McCandless is one of those that always loved to push the boat out further than anyone else.

When did Carine McCandless release her book?

Carine decided the best thing to do was put pen to paper and release a book of her own in 2015. However, the novel took a different turn from many others about Chris’ journey. Carine grew up with her brother and knew everything about his life. Source: Carine McCandless.

What is the Stampede Trail?

McCandless follows a trail called the Stampede Trail, which was blazed in the 1930s by a legendary Alaska miner. In 1961, Yukon Construction started to upgrade the trail, but gave up in 1963, leaving a bus outfitted to house workers along the trail as a shelter for hunters and trappers (although it is rarely used). In early September 1992, three moose hunters, Ken Thompson, Gordon Samel and Ferdie Swanson, go out to the bus, where they find a couple from Anchorage standing about fifty feet away, looking disturbed.

How does Krakauer show us about McCandless?

In these opening chapters, Krakauer shows us many people who get along well with McCandless , and who have strongly positive things to say about him, even if they only spent a few hours driving him somewhere. Often, these people doubt him at first, assuming, based on his looks, hygiene, or Alaskan plans that he is foolish, uneducated, or some equivalent, but he is able to change people’s minds about him very quickly. Thus, according to Krakauer’s characterization, although McCandless certainly is flawed, and makes some mistakes that end in his death, the common belief that he is naïve and arrogant is shown to be, if not completely wrong, at least an unfair oversimplification.

What is the most devastating flaw of McCandless?

This stubbornness is closely related to what seems to be McCandless’s most devastating flaw: his selfishness . He is passionately insistent on his own ability to take care of himself, on his right to freedom, from government law, from the responsibilities of intimacy, from the bounds of safety. This, though not selfish at heart, translates into selfishness as McCandless hurts those who love him most in his quest for total freedom. Though he is admirably trying to live as best he can by his own beliefs and morals, he doesn’t pause to reflect on how his actions are painful to those around him, and this ultimately leads to his death.

What does Alex tell Jim about the grizzlies?

McKinley. Jim does his best to dissuade Alex—the hunting isn’t good there, the grizz lies are fierce —but Alex won’t budge.

Where does McCandless live?

McCandless lives in a house owned by Westerberg with some of his other employees, which he really enjoys.

Where does Wayne Westerberg meet McCandless?

We flash back to earlier. Wayne Westerberg, the owner of a grain elevator in Carthage, South Dakota, meets McCandless when he picks him up hitchhiking. McCandless ends up staying in his trailer for a few days, and Westerberg tells him to look him up if he ever needs work. McCandless comes back a few weeks later and starts working for Westerberg. ...

What was the most likely cause of death for McCandless?

For the autopsy, McCandless’s remains prove too badly decomposed for much to be clear, but as there is no evidence of massive internal injury or broken bones, starvation is posited as the most likely cause of death.

What does Gallien think of Alex?

Though Gallien suspects “ Alex ” of being a Jack London fanatic, bent on living out his “ill considered fantasies” in the Alaskan wilderness, he agrees to drive him to the park. Gallien also notices that Chris’ backpack is especially light for an extended camping trip.

What does Gallien try to dissuade Alex from doing?

Download. Sensing that “ Alex ” is unprepared, Gallien attempts to dissuade him from hiking alone into the forest. But Chris refuses his advice, declaring that he will handle all obstacles on his own and without the help of anyone, including his family, with whom he has cut ties.

Why is Alex on the drive so charming?

On the drive, “ Alex ” appears to be a charming, well- educated, and adventurous young man because he boasts about nearly dying off the coast of Mexico during a storm. He shows Gallien his “ crude map ” of the national park, pointing out his intended hiking route: the Stampede Trail .

Where does Gallien drop Alex off?

Gallien drops “ Alex ” off on the edge of The Stampede Trail. Chris attempts to give Gallien his watch and loose change, but Gallien implores “Alex” to take his leftover lunch and pair of rubber work-boots, so that his feet will stay warm and dry. Chris reluctantly accepts these gifts and hikes onto the trail.

Why is the postcard to Wayne prophetic?

McCandless’ postcard to Wayne is eerily prophetic because it anticipates Chris’ untimely and tragic death. By suggesting that he won’t be heard from again and that his venture could be “fatal,” Chris broadcasts his willingness to face death and seems to predict his own death, as well as speak from the grave.

What does Gallien's suspicion of Chris reflect?

Gallien’s suspicion of Chris reflects Krakauer’s mistrust of romantic portrayals of the American wilderness, propagated by London’s canon of adventure fiction. Meanwhile, Chris’ lack of suitable supplies shows that he is ill prepared for the hike, suggesting that he is either extremely confident in his camping skills or very naïve about conditions on the trail.

What does Chris' lack of preparation mean?

Chris’ lack of preparation, however, signals that he may not be ready for the life in the Alaskan woods.

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1.Hitchhiking Symbol in Into the Wild | LitCharts

Url:https://www.litcharts.com/lit/into-the-wild/symbols/hitchhiking

4 hours ago The Into the Wild quotes below all refer to the symbol of Hitchhiking. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and …

2.Into the Wild: Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis - LitCharts

Url:https://www.litcharts.com/lit/into-the-wild/chapter-1-the-alaska-interior

28 hours ago Jim Gallien, driving on the outskirts of Fairbanks, Alaska spots a young hitchhiker shivering on the road and picks him up. Though carrying a rifle, the young man is friendly and introduces …

3.Into the Wild Chapters 1 - 2 Summary & Analysis

Url:https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/into-the-wild/section1/

35 hours ago Outside Fairbanks, Alaska, an electrician named Jim Gallien picks up a teenage hitchhiker who introduces himself as Alex. Gallien is concerned that Alex, who claims to be 24, is …

4.Into the Wild: Summary & Analysis | Chapter 6 - CliffsNotes

Url:https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/i/into-the-wild/summary-and-analysis/chapter-6

32 hours ago Get free homework help on Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild: book summary, chapter summary and analysis, quotes, essays, and character analysis courtesy of CliffsNotes. Into the Wild retraces …

5.Who picks up the hitchhiker? | Into the Wild Questions | Q …

Url:https://www.gradesaver.com/into-the-wild/q-and-a/who-picks-up-the-hitchhiker-312293

6 hours ago  · Who picks up the hitchhiker? Into the wild Chapter 1. Asked by Autumn B #575265 5 years ago 11/10/2016 11:57 AM. Last updated by Aslan 5 years ago 11/10/2016 12:13 PM. …

6.The Real Story Behind 'Into The Wild Movie' And Chris …

Url:https://www.journeyranger.com/stories/the-truth-behind-into-the-wild/

2 hours ago  · ‘Into the Wild’ told the tragic true story of Chris McCandless. Almost three decades have passed, but Chris’ story has grown to become a cultural phenomenon. Chris McCandless …

7.Into the Wild Final Flashcards | Quizlet

Url:https://quizlet.com/120094028/into-the-wild-final-flash-cards/

28 hours ago Terms in this set (36) Jim Gallien is driving in Alaska when he picks up a hitchhiker. Who is the hitchhiker? Alex who is really Chris McCandless. where does the hitchhiker intend to go to? …

8.Into the Wild Flashcards | Quizlet

Url:https://quizlet.com/119931805/into-the-wild-flash-cards/

35 hours ago Terms in this set (31) Who is the hitchhiker Jim Gallien picked up? Where does Chris McCandless intend to go? How does Jim Gallien react to the hitchhiker's intentions? Jim is very surprised …

9.Into the Wild (2007) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb

Url:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758758/fullcredits

26 hours ago Cast (in credits order) verified as complete. Emile Hirsch. ... Chris McCandless. Marcia Gay Harden. ... Billie McCandless. William Hurt.

10.Into the Wild Chapters 1-3 Summary and Analysis

Url:https://www.gradesaver.com/into-the-wild/study-guide/summary-chapters-1-3

21 hours ago Into the Wild Summary and Analysis of Chapters 1-3. Jim Gallien sees a young man hitchhiking four miles outside of Fairbanks, and he picks him up. The hitchhiker introduces himself as …

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