The Tragedy of Freedom: A Hypothesis of Existentialism in Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild"

Abstract

This paper examines the tragedy of freedom in "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer through an existentialist viewpoint. In the protagonist's pursuit of personal liberation, the study examines the concepts of autonomy, accountability, and the search for meaning through an understanding of existentialism. A qualitative case study method analyses the novel and investigates existentialist concepts. A summary of the literature work, close reading, theme analysis, and literary interpretation are all provided within the framework. This study aims to enhance our comprehension of the tragedy of freedom and its implications for human existence by casting light on the intricate interplay between individual liberty and societal norms. By exploring the existentialist perspective, the research contributes to the larger discourse on freedom, responsibility, and the pursuit of meaning in literature and human experience.

Keywords

• existentialism
• freedom
• individual freedom
• societal norms