A girlfriend, or even a close friend, might balk at living on rice and wandering in the wild for months.

Although Krakauer rejects McCandless' refusal of all aid as a form of suicide, it seems justifiable in interpreting McCandless' determination to push aside all attempts to make his journey safer as a kind of unconscious misanthropy, or hatred of humanity. Having people care about him would have meant that he would have to take more responsibility for his safety. The farther away he pushed people from him emotionally, the more risky his behavior could become. Much like alcoholics or drug abusers' self-defeating behaviors, McCandless' embrace of asceticism and risk could be interpreted as a way of keeping people emotionally and physically distant. Only a person with no social responsibilities can burn money, refuse to send regular letters and postcards, and take from the world only as much as he needs...
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