Identity in John Greens The Fault in Our Stars - 1761 Words

Self-Identity in John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars People with cancer often begin to define themselves based on their experience with their illness, this self-definition through one’s cancer is one that the characters fear in John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. The novel shows how the characters strive to discover their identities, but despite that are still identified by their illness. The novel also makes the argument that young people with cancer are not any more virtuous or different than other kids rather, they are just normal kids living with an illness. Augustus wants to be remembered and also be more than just a boy who battled cancer, but despite his efforts is still identified by his illness. The character Augustus strives to†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"You know†¦ its kids’ stuff, but I always thought my obituary would be in all the newspapers, that I’d have a story worth telling. I always had this secret suspicion that I was special† (Green, 240). When Augustus and Hazel meet at his house after support group he shows her his medals and tells her the story of how he used to be a basketball player till the day he got diagnosed with osteosarcoma cancer, a type of bone cancer that spreads from one limb in the skeleton to another, which is why he has an artificial leg. Augustus also tells her about his family and sisters then asks her â€Å"’So what’s your story?’† she then then replies â€Å"’I already told you my story. I was diagnosed when-‘† He interrupts and says â€Å"’No, not your cancer story. Your story. Interests, hobbies, passions, etcetera†¦ Don’t tell me you’re one of those people who becomes their disease. I know so many people like that. It’s disheartening. Like cancer is in the growth business, right? The taking-people-over business. But surely you haven’t let it succeed prematurely’† (Green, 32). Augustus realizes that a lot of people let their cancer identify them, which it seems at first like Hazel does. Through the novel Augustus mentions multiple times how he wants his life to mean something other than cancer. â€Å"I fear that I won’t be able to give anything in exchange for my life. If you don’t live a life in service of a greater good, you’ve gottaShow MoreRelatedPostmodernism And Adolescence : The Outsiders1196 Words   |  5 Pagesto be pinned down and defined by a set of definitive characteristics or parameters. Its fluid definition begs to be poked and prodded, unwilling to offer a solid answer of what constitutes a Postmodern text. Similarly, the construct of adolescent identity ebbs and flows, now influenced by the advent of social media and its new genre of storytelling. Postmodernism and adolescence together form an interesting perspective that has been catalyzed by Young Adult Literature. The disregard for Young AdultRead MoreEssay on Jo hn Green6381 Words   |  26 Pagesheard and teaching society history in his website known as â€Å"Crash Course†. The author, John Green, has made an impact on his readers by expressing life changing themes in his works along with how his life impacted his work and lasting contributions. John Green, an awe-inspiring author born on August 24th, 1977. He was primarily raised in walking distance of Disney World in Orlando, Florida. After high school, John resided in Ohio and graduated from Kenyon College in 2000 with a double major in EnglishRead MoreLove : The Nature Of Love1912 Words   |  8 Pagesdictionary, but the perception of love has changed over the years. William Shakespeare’s version of love was Romeo and Juliet and the hundreds of sonnets that he poured his heart and soul into, Jane Austen’s was Pride and Prejudice, John Green’s was The Fault in Our Stars. To each one of these people they were writing about love. What it meant to them and what it meant in their time period - but it was all love, wasn’t it? Till We Have Faces is plagued with possessive and false love, but it is also