How does Chris McCandless relate to Leo Tolstoy?

Answer 1

"An extremely intense young man, McCandless had been captivated by the writing of Leo Tolstoy. He particularly admired the fact that the great novelist had forsaken a life of wealth and privilege to wander among the destitute. For several years he had been emulating the count's asceticism and moral rigor to a degree that astonished and occasionally alarmed those who knew him well. When he took leave of James Gallien, McCandless entertained no illusions that he was trekking into Club Med; peril, adversity, and Tolstoyan renunciation were what he was seeking. And that is precisely what he found on the Stampede Trail, in spades."

Answer 2

Both Chris McCandless and Leo Tolstoy renounced their privileged upbringings and embraced simple, back-to-nature lifestyles in search of deeper truths about human existence and meaning. McCandless sought a life of adventure and self-discovery in the Alaskan wilderness, while Tolstoy advocated for a life of simplicity, truth, and moral purpose. Both men found inspiration in the natural world and questioned societal norms and materialistic values.