What is Krakauer's characterization of the relationship between Chris McCandless and his father?

• A. Walt needed control but Chris was independent -- polarization inevitable
• B. Stubborn and high strung
• C. Chris's ambition to become a politician strained the bond
• D. They shared a warm, trusting bond

Answer: (B)

Krakauer frames Chris McCandless’s relationship with his father as emotionally charged and strained, driven by Chris’s fierce need for independence and Walt’s strong wish to guide him into a conventional, controlled life. Chris pushes away the safety net of his father’s expectations, while Walt responds with concern and pressure, leading to frequent, heated clashes. That dynamic feels tense and combustible rather than warm or easy, so describing their bond as stubborn and high-strung captures the friction and intensity Krakauer emphasizes. It’s not presented as a warm, trusting relationship, nor is it focused on political ambitions—it's the sharp, stubborn push and pull between a son who refuses to be shaped by his father and a father who won’t easily let go.