Opravy

Emerson's desire of nonconformity leads to individuality.

Indeed, he believes that when among fellows, one cannot really separates his own desires and their desires for him.

However, being independent when alone is good, being independent among others is great: “it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” However, solitude is necessary to attain such a state of mind, because acting like this require strength and clarity of mind.

Even when he was his fellows students, McCandless was not alike his peers: obsessed by books and peculiar, content with very little, it was more than a simple desire to get away from civilization, it had become a need.

He was by no mean antisocial, he simply needed a lot of time for himself but could get along with people he met.

He also insists that if we are truly honest with ourselves, we will have an unique experience, because we won't be behaving like lemmings, but we will create our own path: “Envy is ignorance, imitation is suicide.”.

We are not victims as so many authors say, but creators.

Chris did not want to follow a touristic trip, he wanted to create his own path and discover something new, something original.