Into the Direct/Indirect Characterization of Chris McCandless

Direct Characterization: author comes out and explicitly tells the readers what the character looks and acts like.
Indirect Characterization: author shows the readers what the character does, says, thinks, and feels, and then lets the readers draw their own conclusions about the character.


Direct Characterization: 

-         - Determined, wants to find more meaning in life, very set on his trip in Alaska

-      - Well educated, exceeded in academics in school

-      - Self-reliant “I won’t run into anything I can’t deal with on my own” (page 6).

-      - Hard working, always showed up at his job at McDonald’s or when he worked for Westerberg “He was the hardest worker I’ve ever seen” (page 18). 
     - Excited, couldn't wait to get into the nature of Alaska "He couldn't wait to head out there and get started" (page 6). 
-   - Attentive, "McCandless was especially attentive to Burres, flirting and clowning with her at every opportunity" (page 45).
    - Playful, he always flirted and teased with Jan about her puppies
    -Friendly, always cheery and nice to the people who gave him a chance, "but he looked friendly enough" (pages 3-4).
    -Ethical, he was very moral about his job, "He was what you'd call extremely ethical" (page 18).
    -Dreamy, had wild dreams of going into Alaska, "him and McCandless, at least they tried to follow their dream" (page 96).

      Indirect Characterization: 

       - Elusive “terribly concerned over Chris’s vanishing act, had by the time already contacted the Annandale police, who had been of no help” (page 31).

-      -  Agreeable, easily gets along with the people who help him such as Westerberg or Gallien

-      - Sentimental, always kept in touch with friends he met along the way “send a postcard to   Westerberg” (page 33).

-      - Rebellious, very against the laws of society and the government “How I feed myself is none of the governments’ business” (page 6).

-       - Philosophical, follows Tolstoy’s teachings and ideas as a way of life

-       - Resourceful “he’d been surviving on edible plants he identified from the book” (page 30).

-       - Outdated/ Old-fashioned, doesn’t agree with the ways of the modern world

-       - Considerate, kept in touch with the friends he made along his journey

- Misunderstood, his parents and family didn’t understand how he felt about the world and life
- Independent, liked to take care of himself and roam on his own path "Driving west out of Atlanta, he intended to invent an utterly new life for himself, one in which he would be free to wallow in unfiltered experience" (pages 22-23).  
- Unattached, didn't let people get super close to him, "He'd successfully kept Jan Burres and Wayne Westerberg at arm's length" (page 55).


I am getting the impression that Chris McCandless was an independent soul. He didn't follow the rules of society but he was still a decent person. He cared deeply for those who helped him even if he wasn't very willing to accept their help. He wanted to find a deeper meaning in life and he wasn't going to let anything stop him. He was reaching for a life similar to Tolstoy's. 


Image from: http://www.bobmclean.me/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/mccandless.jpg