Adam Shepard and Chris McCandless were two young and intelligent men who embarked upon their own journeys. Despite having different outcomes and differences among each other, they both made impacts on many. However, the question still remains. Who served a greater purpose and who was more admirable? Adam Shepard served a greater purpose and was more admirable because he showed his readers that the American Dream is still possible and achievable through hard work and determination. As Shepard and McCandless set out onto their journeys, they both create goals for themselves along the way. Before Shepard sets out onto his journey, he comes up with a plan/goal beforehand. Shepard hopes to live in a house, own a car, and have $2000 cash by the end of his project (one year). As he is about to embark and make his way to his destination he will start “literally from scratch with one 8’ x 10’ tarp, a sleeping bag, an empty gym bag, $25, and the clothes on my back” (Shepard, pg. xiv). As for McCandless, he didn’t have as much goals for himself. McCandless had planned his escape/disappearance in advance. He hitchhiked his way to Alaska and meet some people along the way who …show more content…
As for Shepard his project was very successful. Not only did Shepard meet his goals, but he also accomplished his goals earlier than expected. Shepard gave himself a time frame of a year and finished his project within 6 months. He was able to leave Charleston earlier than expected. Unfortunately for McCandless, things didn’t end well for him. By the end of his six months in Alaska, he packed up his belongings and was on his way out of the wild when he failed to realize that the stream he so easily crossed, frozen in the winter, was now defrosted and fast streaming. McCandless hoped to survive for a little while longer until a new plan sprung to mind. However time was running out,