Setting

Setting:

Into the Wild is a text that relies heavily on setting to tell the story. While the larger plot revolves around Alex and his antagonisms with society and himself, there are prevailing conflicts that pit Alex against his cruel unforgiving surroundings. The following is a chronological list of the diverse settings that Alex travels through.

Annadale Virginia

Christopher McCandless is born into affluence and wealth living in Annadale, Virginia: an upper-class neighborhood outside Washington DC. His father is a well-to-do aerospace engineer however his family is a dysfunctional one. Despite his parents fighting Chris excels at school and academics. Unbeknownst to his parents, Christopher's upbringing in Annadale breeds his discontentment with society and conventional living.

Emory University, Georgia

In college Chris once again proved himself as a comptent scholar and athlete in college. His non conventional approch to school and life surpasses his roommate who drops out of school. Chris graduates and then heads off in search of adventure.

Detrital Wash In the Nevada desert, Chris abandons his his car under a camoflauged tarp. Here he burns his money and changes his name to Alexander Supertramp. Thus, "Alex" starts his life as a wayfarer making his way across the southwest, hitchhiking, canoeing, and befriending the inhabitants of the desert. When his yellow Datsun car was discovered by police, his parents hired a private investigator to track him down.



Bullhead City

As Alex's travels wore on, he felt the need to settle down for a time. He chose Bulhead City, Arizona- a casino town and takes up working at a Mc Donald's. Living on the fringes of society, Alex proves he can assimilate with people but only for a time until he must take to the wilderness again.

Carthage, South Dakota

After more travels around the country, Alex holes up in Carthage South Dakota. It is in this small agricultural community that Alex works for Wayne Westerburg. Wayne treats Alex as a son but when he gets arrested, Alex loses his father-figure and moves north hitchhiking to Alaska.

Stampede Trail

The bus where Chris (Alex) lived in for quite some time was Denali National Park in Alaska. The bus, once part of the Fairbanks City Transit System had been stripped but the functioned as a shelter for hunters and backcountry explorers. It is here that Alex takes up residence. Without the bus, Alex would have had to relocate or he would have died sooner. The bus offered him shelter and protection during harsh weather or from animals in the woods (such as bears).