Keep in mind that McCandless isn't the writer of this book, and Krakauer was unable to interview the real-life McCandless to ask this type of question. The McCandless that Krakauer paints is Krakauer's interpretation of the man, and that interpretation is absolutely influenced by his own experiences which Krakauer spends a significant amount of time discussing in one of the chapters. Sean Penn's interpretation of McCandless's worldview, as illustrated in the film, differs quite a bit from Krakauer's portrayal; therefore, different readers are likely to answer this question quite differently.
McCandless seemed to revere men that spent time alone, time contemplating existence, and time in nature. A man like Thoreau was heroic in McCandless's mind, and McCandless sought to emulate that worldview and lifestyle. This is one reason why McCandless spent so much time alone and on the road. It allowed him to be beholden to nobody. It's not that he was anti-social—he was quite good in groups according to people Krakauer interviewed; however, group conformity never sat well with McCandless. Even his elementary school teacher realized early on that McCandless was an independent soul, and that points to his worldview of doing and pursuing what made him happy. That is something that Thoreau could have gotten behind.
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
Chris McCandless was inspired by the writings of Thoreau, Emerson, Tolstoy, and Jack London to live a non-sedentary existence and experience the natural world without the comforts and amenities of modern society. Chris McCandless completely rejected mainstream American culture by donating his life savings to the OXFAM charity, burning the rest of his cash, and exploring the southwest before eventually heading out on his "great Alaskan odyssey." Chris's worldview is best summarized in his letter to Ron Franz, where he encourages the old man to make a radical change in his life by selling his home and adopting a nomadic lifestyle. In his letter, Chris also writes,
The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun (Krakauer, 40).
Chris believed that security, conformity, and conservatism impair a man's natural adventurous spirit, which is why he chose to leave his old life and opportunities behind to travel and experience the natural world. Chris hoped to test his intelligence and abilities in the Alaskan wilderness, where he ended up hiking down the Stampede Trail and inhabiting an abandoned bus along the Teklanika River. During his time spent in the wild, Chris rarely expounded upon his living conditions but seemed to thrive until he accidentally ate poisonous seeds and starved to death. Chris enjoyed becoming one with nature as he lived off the land and hunted to survive. He also valued the time he spent by himself and never seemed to crave a relationship during his adventures. Overall, Chris was a passionate, eager young man, who was inspired to live a non-sedentary life and experience the natural world as originally intended for man.
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