Fault In Our Stars Cancer

John Green’s novel, The Fault in Our Stars, sixteen year old Hazel has terminal cancer, which immediately lets the reader know the protagonist’s fate from the first chapter; however, the crux of this novel stems from the boy Augustus Waters that ends up dating Hazel. Augustus is in remission in the beginning, but actually ends up dying from cancer as it spreads through his body while Hazel and Augustus date. As readers peak into what seems like the final chapter of Hazel’s life, they are treated to a showing of a completely normal person that happens to be dying. The novel is a worthwhile display of how Hazel’s terminal illness does not define her as a person, how people react to dying persons, eventually leading into a personal opinion of

In the United States alone, approximately 45 children are diagnosed with cancer daily (“Childhood Cancer Statistics”), and that is not to mention that 40% of people in general are diagnosed in their lifetime at some point (“Cancer Statistics”). This leads one to believe that every single person is affected by death as well as cancer. As an explanation, it is almost inescapable that we as a society are likely to be acquainted with an individual that is diagnosed with a deadly illness like cancer. In the novel, the main character, Hazel, has a plethora of friends and family that interact with her in a manner that seems different to how they would act around people without an illness. Therefore, it is not so much the sickness itself that is covered in the novel, rather the emotions and stigma that surrounds cancer or any deadly illness for that matter. For example, when her friend Kaitlyn exclaims without thinking, “I mean, I would just die—" and then stopped short, looking at me as if to say I'm sorry, as if it were a crime to mention death to the dying,” (Green, 44). As a result, the novel brings to light a theme that relates directly to everyday life in that most people do not know how to act towards a dying person. Whether it be a difficult subject to talk about or one simply cannot help but to

Other readers, especially in my class, are looking at this novel only at face value it seems which hurt firsthand enjoyment of it as the discussions were lackluster in terms of themes and metaphors. Little details such as Hazel not being able to use the stairs at the end of the novel compared to the beginning, and the change from calling Augustus to just using Gus are appreciated. Additionally, while the cigarette metaphor is an interesting way to personify Augustus’s uncertainty in situations is interesting, it becomes painfully hard to read when the flight attendant has to tell him to put his metaphorical cigarette out. Furthermore, while Gus is not a favorite character, the fact that he was Hazel’s favorite was what was important. The novel overall is hyped up as this grandiose love story that displays true love, but that is incredibly inappropriate as there is much more to the story. Personally, this novel displays how people do not know how to talk to a person with cancer, as well as giving a huge life lesson on mortality. The love aspect is only the tip of the iceberg, and that’s a shame that it's the only reason this book is recognized. As for the ending, it is very appropriate and really stresses the theme of mortality and it gives closure to Hazel’s character arc. Overall, the novel is alright and has some interesting methods of