An obsession can begin with the smallest of events. Ideas, real or imagined, of what one's life might be like without the ties that bind them, positive or negative, consume the mind and create visions of freedom from the demands of family, government, or even society as a whole. McCandless' discovery of his parents' indiscretions was the beginning of his obsession; an obsession that grew exponentially in a short period of time that chained him to the idea that to be truly happy and free, he had to get rid of everyone he had ever known and everything he had owned. McCandless became a slave to his conception of true freedom. His idea of ​​freedom was nothing short of extreme. It involved an elaborate plan to abandon his parents; separate from society; unsubscribe from the government network; to finally arrive at the awareness that to experience true freedom in happiness, it must be shared. The discovery of McCandless's parents' indiscretions sets into motion the first step of his plan: freedom from both. McCandless's utter loathing for his parents triggered something within him that made him want to remove them from his life, thus freeing himself from their demands. , sentences and inquisitions. Krakauer explains; “Children can be harsh judges of their parents, disinclined to grant leniency, and this was especially true in Chris's case” (122). The standards that some parents set for their children are often unattainable and often come from a place in their lives. own failures and defects. In McCandless' case, this is exactly what happened. Walt and Billie had demanded so much of Chris physically, academically, and morally, that when he was informed of their... middle of paper. ..... By the time he realized that he was, in fact, able to forgive his parents and wanted to have a family, it was too late McCandless remained eternally chained to his imagined freedom. Works Cited Krakauer, Jon "Chapter 12/Annandale." Into the Wild. New York: Anchor, 1997. 122. Print. Krakauer, Jon. "Author's Note." Into the Wild. New York: Anchor, 1997. N. Print. Krakauer, Jon. “Chapter 1/Interior Alaska.” Into the Wild. New York: Anchor, 1997. 3. Print. Krakauer, Jon. “Chapter 1/Interior Alaska.” Into the Wild. New York: Anchor, 1997. 6. Print. Krakauer, Jon. “Chapter 10/Fairbanks.” In the wild nature. New York: Anchor, 1997. 101. Print. Krakauer, Jon. "Chapter 18/The Path of Stampede." In the wild nature. New York: Anchor, 1997. 188. Print. Krakauer, Jon. "Chapter 18/The Path of Stampede." In the wild nature. New York: Anchor, 1997. 195. Print.