"If McCandless felt estranged from his parents and siblings, he found a surrogate family in Westerberg and his employees, most of whom lived in Westerberg's Carthage home" (Krakauer 18).
Topic: The Dynamics of Family.
This quote reveals a lot not only about Alex, but Westerberg as well. It is evident that Alex lacked the loving bond between his parents and siblings but was able to experience this feeling through people he met on his journey. This highlights the idea that family does not have to be blood, it can mean where a person finds love and feels at home. Westerberg and the employees became his family, they formed a closeness through guidance and time spent together allowing a family experience for Alex. The loving attention he did not receive from his blood family, was fortunately gained by the people he met that were not related to him. This quote also shows the type of charitable person Westerberg is. The end of the quote explains that most of the employees lived in Westerberg's home, from this information the reader can imply that he is a good man. He helps people in need and opens up his home to the people that need a place to stay, including Alex. It seems that the two men used the people around them to form bonds in order to fill voids that their early life caused.
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