Theme: Man's Call to the Wild

The allure of danger is a central theme in Into the Wild. Krakauer does not believe that this allure is significant to everyone, but rather to a specific kind of young man. This young man is one who is in passionate, ambitious, and intense, but not wholly satisfied with or approving of the opportunities and challenges society presents to him. These young men also always seem to have some kind of negative driving force compelling them to act a certain way. McCandless's driving force is his troubled relationship with his father.

"I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence. I wanted excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love. I felt in myself a superabundance of energy which found no outlet in our quiet life." –Leo Tolstoy, Family Happiness

McCandless is a Tolstoy enthusiast. He has read almost all his books, and often recommends them to others whom he deeply respects and admires. This quote depicts his restlessness with society, and his eagerness to get out into the world to do what he really loves. However, the risk in his activities often brings him only one mistake away from death. For this reason, he has to focus utterly and urgently, thus allowing him to escape from the problems that would otherwise eat away at him. The thrill of pure accomplishment also accompanies McCandless's unpredictable lifestyle, which makes him to feel that he truly knows what he is capable of, that he doesn’t need to rely on others or society to survive in his man vs. nature vs. himself struggle.