The most important qualities 

"Chasity and moral purity were qualities McCandless mulled over long and often" (Krakauer 65).

family dynamics


In chapter 7 it takes about Alex's experiences and thoughts with girls and relationships. The book says he was not the type of guy to bring home anybody and never talked about girls. There could be alot of explanations for why he was not the usual boy who is obsessed with girls. I think he was never focused on girls because he was focused on escaping into his own world. He talked about wanting a family but what if he never acted on it pursuing a  real relationship because he was afraid it would interfere with his plans of traveling the country. Another reason he could have been afraid to pursue anything is because he was afraid his relationship would turn toxic like his parents.There has been many situations where people do not want to have children or get into a relationship because they are afraid of messing it up like their past.

Thinking Too Much

"I think maybe part of what got him into trouble was that he did too much thinking. Sometimes he tried too hard to make sense of the world, to figure out why people were bad to each other so often" (Krakauer 18).


family dynamics


Alex was always trying to make sense of why people were so bad to each other most likely because of how his parents were to each other. Although he grew up in a abusive environment that did not shape him into an abusive person. Instead it shaped him into a person who thinks about why people are bad and someone who overthinks things. Overthinking can be difficult for someones mental state but people who overthink tend to be more observant about things. In Alex's case it makes him more observant about peoples behaviors and his own behavior.  

Escaping from it all


"I don't want to know what time it is. I don't want to know what day it is or where i am. None of that matters" (Krakauer 6).

Travel Advice

   This simple sentence in the book really tells you a lot his outlook in life right now. he probably did not mean it to sound "deep" by it is. He is trying to say he is done with everything in life and he needs to escape. I relate a lot to this because sometimes you just need a break from your life or situation. Although he went to the extreme of cutting off all communication and escaping to travel around the country. He is really just a young adult who is yearning to find myself and get out of the life he and his family created for him. Saying he does not want to know and it does not matter shows he really just needs a fresh start.