Common Themes In The Works Of Thoreau And Jon Krakauer

During their journeys against the wilderness, Henry David Thoreau and Jon Krakauer challenged the demands and territories between the humans’ safe haven and Mother Earth’s true land. Both Walden and Into The Wild share themes that both authors address. In the early stages of their goals, Thoreau and Krakauer encountered a common theme. Self perfection and animosity towards those who preach perfection, but have not obtained it themselves. In his journey through Walden, Thoreau demonstrates this idea while observing other inhabitants. “Farmers are respectable and interesting in proportion that they are poor, poor farmers. A model farm! where the house stands like fungus in a muck heap, chambers for men… cleansed and uncleansed… Such is no model farm.” (Thoreau 157)In this excerpt, Thoreau addresses to the reader that farmers around the area were trying to set themselves as an example for others, in hope of making an impact towards individuals who may precede in their steps. However, their good intentions will collapse within itself in unsanitary conditions and disorganization. A similar situation would befall McCandless in his story, prior to his vanishing, McCandless
And so another theme the books share is the distaste of modern society and its progressive agenda. Krakauer expresses McCandless’s frustration with society by stating. “McCandless’s face would darken with anger and he’d fumilate about his parents or politicians or the endemic idiocy of mainstream society.” (Krakauer 52) As described by Krakauer, McCandless has no desire for any future affiliation with society in its current state. He would prefer a more simpler era where everything would be organized in his own vision, instead of those of his superiors. Thoreau would declare a similar statement but towards the practices of