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Labyrinth In Looking For Alaska

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In the engrossing novel, “Looking for Alaska,” John Green uses multiple discrete characters to seek for the purpose of life, death and suffering. He symbolizes these ideas with a labyrinth. Its meaning is a mystery of the novel, although Alaska Young thinks that it's about suffering. An excerpt from the book of a conversation between Miles and Alaska explains the concept: "It's not life or death, the labyrinth." "Um, okay. So what is it?" "Suffering," she said. "Doing wrong and having wrong things happen to you. That's the problem. Bolivar was talking about the pain, not about the living or dying. How do you get out of the labyrinth of suffering?" (pg. 52) Each character’s escape of the labyrinth is different. The three main characters are Alaska Young, Miles “Pudge” Halter, and Chip “The Colonel” Martin. Their lives are very distinct but somewhat relatable. The most empathetic character is Miles “Pudge” Halter. …show more content…

When he arrives at Culver Creek, he befriends The Colonel (known for his charisma and strong leadership qualities) who is blatantly, the opposite of Pudge. The Colonel tells Pudge when the “Weekday Warriors” were hazing him that "We will deal with those bastards, Pudge. I promise you. They will regret messing with one of my friends." (pg. 127) This implies that The Colonel is also a loyal friend. Pudge also has a strange obsession with the last words of dead people. This may have to do with Green’s general theme of life and death. Pudge befriends the mysterious Alaska Young through The Colonel. Pudge grows very fond of the so-called “hot mess” and describes her by saying, “If people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.” (pg

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