Eleanor Roosevelt once said: "Never forget that you not only have the right to be an individual, but that you have the obligation to be. » In this quote, Eleanor expresses that you should always enjoy the universal human right to be an individual. Since time immemorial, many of those who have led meaningful and enjoyable lives have shared one common trait: individualism. Chris McCandless and Thoreau were no different, they both embodied individualism and as a result, they inspired generations without knowing it. Throughout the book Into The Wild, Chris McCandless repeatedly displays his individual viewpoints and character traits. Chris deliberately did things that society would look down on to emphasize the fact that he was an individual and didn't mindlessly follow the crowd like many people do. His desire to break society's rules was not without purpose. In fact, Chris’s life was “filled with meaning and purpose.” But the meaning he has wrested from existence lies beyond the comfortable path” (Krakauer 184). The quote explains that everything Chris did had a purpose even if it seemed buried or unattainable. Even though he didn't value things that most people consider normal, he found purpose in his journey. An important trait that influenced his individualism was his disregard for what others thought of him. Chris did things for himself and not to please others; this disregard for the opinions of others was present even when he was a sophomore in high school. His sister, Carine, said, “He didn’t care that it wasn’t a cool thing to do” (Krakauer 120). She then added, “He didn’t seem so much interested in the money as in the fact that he was good at earning it” (Krakauer 120). This can be taken from... middle of paper ......o The Wild and Walden, it was clear that individualism strongly influenced Chris and Thoreau throughout their travels. Being your own person or individual can also be seen as one of the key elements to leading a happy and fulfilling life. This has been demonstrated not only in the books Into The Wild and Walden, but also throughout history where it has always been human nature to live free and as one's own person. Throughout the ages, it has been observed time and time again that those who lead the most meaningful and fulfilling lives are individualists. For a person to become an individual, they must understand what it means to be and ignore what others may think of them. Works Cited Krakauer, Jon. In nature. New York: Anchor, 1997 Thoreau, Henry. “Vauden.” Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes, Gold Level. UpperSaddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2005