Into the Wild: reflections and analogies

Abstract

Christopher Johnson McCandless, alias Alexander Supertramp, like St. Francis leaves his father and his values. Alaska like The Marmore Fall. The bear with Chris like the wolf with Francis. But Francis had a strong ideology to support his rebellion, while Chris has just his love for the wild: too little to save him. Only Art is able to transform such rebellions into everlasting memories. Francis – writing his Cantico dei Cantici – invents Italian poetry. On the contrary Chris is able to write just his notes in his student-book. Happily two artists – Jon Krakauer and Sean Penn – succeed in turning his sacrifice into art.