Who is Jim Gallien?
union electrician and accomplished hunter and woodsman who picks up "Alex" four miles outside of Fairbanks and drives him to Denali. He is the last person to see McCandless alive
Who is Chris McCandless
an American hiker and itinerant traveler, who also went by the name "Alexander Supertramp"; went into Alaska
Why does he change his name? What is his new name?
Alexander Supertramp; changed his name bc the name personifies Chris's sense of adventure and counter-culture. The new identity helps sever Chris from his old identity and his old world
What college does he graduate from?
Emory University with honors in 1990
What kind of student is he?
honors student and was academically and athletically gifted
To what organization does he donate all of his remaining college money?
donated his $25,000 life savings to the OXFAM charity
How much money does he donate?
$25,000
Why did he choose this organization?
OXFAM America is a hunger relief organization
- ironic bc two years later he dies due to starvation where he could have used that money for supplies
How does he deceive his parents and his sister after he graduates from college?
...
Why does he want to deceive his family about his whereabouts?
He doesn't want his family to find him and bring him home
Who picks up Chris while hitchhiking in the Pacific Northwest?
...
Who is Wayne Westerburg? Why does he become a close friend to Chris?
owner of a grain elevator in Carthage, South Dakota, who meets McCandless when he picks him up hitchhiking in 1990. He gives McCandless jobs multiple times, and becomes close to him.
- became fond of him as a hard worker, respectful and conscientious, and
Who is Ron Franz? Why do he and Chris become so close?
eighty-year old devout Christian and soldier who picks McCandless up hitchhiking and takes a strong liking to him. He has lost his wife and children long ago, and so feels a fatherly affection for Chris, whom he offers to adopt.
- Chris gave him a sense o
Why does Chris want to go to Alaska? What does he hope to find when gets there or what does he want to prove by taking this trip and living in the wilderness?
- wanted to explore the unexplored and discover a life without responsibility, possessions, people, money but in doing so, he went to his death
Despite his high level of intelligence and advanced education, why does Chris reject a more traditional way of life?
he does not favor materialism and wants to get away from a life that is filled with that
- Chris decided that his life should be spent in work and self-reflection, and so abandoned his family and set out on the road.