Abstract:
This essay examines Jon Krakauer’s 1996 nonfictional novel Into the Wild, which tells the tragic story of young wanderer Chris McCandless, and compares Krakauer’s interpretation to Sean Penn’s 2007 film of the same name, which closely follows the themes and trajectories Krakauer chose for the work. Among their similarities, both mediums fail to address the likelihood of McCandless’s unstable mental health. Substantial evidence reveals the young man’s behavior frequently exhibited symptoms of both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. When they chose to exclude this important detail in favor of a dreamier, more idealized story, Krakauer and Penn relinquished valuable opportunities to contribute to the social de-stigmatization of mental illness.
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