Direct and Indirect Characterization

Direct Characterization is when the author explicitly tells the reader what a character looks like and acts like.

Indirect Characterization is when the author shows the reader what the character does, says, thinks and feels which allows the reader to draw his/ her conclusions.

Direct:

5 feet 8 inches (p.4)

Wiry (p.4)

24 years old (p.4)

Wears glasses (p.17)

67 lbs when the body was found (p.14)

Good looks that mothers fuss over (p.16)

Congenial (p.5)

Well educated (p.5)

Drifter that live "lived out of a backpack" (p. 41)

good looks

"McCandless looks tan, strong, healthy" (p.55)

Indirect:

Determined- McCandless keeps trying to get to the Gulf of California by traveling through Mexico "It is a miracle" says McCandless when a Mexican decides to tow him to the ocean(p.35)

Extremely hard worker- "he always finished the job and had good work ethics" (p.18)

Intelligent- has good conversations that make Gallien think (p.5)

Stubborn- doesn’t back down when told that his journey is full of dangers (p.6)

self reliant/independent- he does not accept gifts from anyone "I'm going to have to be real careful not to accept any gifts from them in the future because they will think they have bought my respect". (p.21)

arrogant- McCandless thinks he can survive in the wild and that he will not die "I'll be fine with what I've got". (p.6)

Chris was not a nutcase and wanted to die but had written an S.O.S letter hoping someone would find him (p. 12)

He did not like modern society that much and when he was working in a Mcdonalds he worked at the same pace during rush hour (p.40)

Chris loves the wild and does not plan on stopping any where "I'll see what happens when spring comes around, because that's when I tend to get really itchy feet". (p.39)

McCandless loves the the tramping life and all of the adventures he is experiencing because his "spirit is soaring" (p.37)

Chris does not like friendship and human intimacy. "relieved that he had again evaded the impending threat of human intimacy, of friendship, and all messy emotional baggage that comes with it." (p. 55)

I get the feeling that McCandless is the type of person who needs adventure and near death experience. He is always on the move and his adventures take him to dangerous places. He does seem to be an intelligent person and genial. McCandless has the best intentions for himself but he seems just a little to arrogant about how to survive in the wild which seems to cause his death.