The Idiot's Guide to Transcendentalism: Chris McCandless Transcendentalism is a literary movement grounded in philosophy, epistemology and holds an emphasis on human experience with nature. Even though there are aspects that patch transcendentalism together, one could describe it as breaking a repressive culture, ultimately leaving a person's mind free to their own thoughts. On the other hand, transcendentalist writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson would distinguish that while nonconforming to society "the world whips you with its displeasure", and experiencing this displeasure is a step towards the natural, self-reliant ideals that are the backbone to the literary movement. Chris McCandless throughout Into the Wild shows both transcendentalist…show more content… McCandless landed a job at McDonalds to make money and his assistant manager at the time Dreeszen recollects that McCandless couldn't stand to wear socks, which were required to be worn by all employees while working. The first thing McCandless would do after his shift would finish was take his socks off, Dreeszen speculating that it might have been a statement "'[letting] [them] know that [they] didn't own him'" (Krakauer, 40). Dreeszen's words paired with McCandless' actions convey the transcendentalist values that McCandless held in such high regard that he could barely stand to give them up long enough to be considered a 'normal' person working a 'normal' job. It drove him to the point of discomfort where he would peel off a simple piece of fabric to reassure himself that his core beliefs were still there. In several other instances in which the many acquaintances McCandless made would ask him about his parents, or what his parents thought of his grand expedition, he would have an immature reaction. In the case of Burres, he described that McCandless would "roll his at [him], get peeved, [and] tell [him] to quit trying to mother him" (Krakauer, 45). McCandless' reaction clearly shows that he is uncomfortable and frustrated with his past and upbringing,…show more content… Exuding the qualities that make transcendentalism what it is, such as resistance to what one views as repressive culture and Emerson's description of discomfort due to nonconformity, or in some cases, conformity, McCandless unquestionably excels in these two
