Despite Augustus’s desire to die in an honourable way, he learns through his relationship with Hazel that his life was honourable as his actions and intentions were good. This is told to Hazel not too long before Augustus’ eventual death as he is unable to fight any longer.įor readers, the death of Augustus serves as a lesson of the unjust nature of life and how “the world is not a wish granting factory” (p. Augustus soon becomes hopeless as he realizes the cancer has restricted his ability to be independent as shown in stating, “I hate myself I hate myself I hate this I hate this I disgust myself I hate it I hate it I hate it just let me fucking die” (p. The couple at this point reaches its breaking point as failing health contributes to the deterioration of Augustus and also signals the near end of the couple’s journey together. Hazel reminds Augustus of this by encouraging him in stating, “You get to battle cancer” and adds, “That is your battle. This becomes a rude awakening for Augustus as he learns that he should accept what life has given him and be content with the impact his life made on those close to him. Hazel, who begins as someone that needs support, becomes a source of guidance and love for Augustus as he faces emotional and physical constraints as cancer grows in his body. Augustus at the beginning of the novel is a character who supports Hazel as she endures phases of serious illness, hospital visits and emotional pain however, the roles reverse as Augustus must also fight cancer.Īugustus reaches higher knowledge as the novel progresses when he too battles cancer which clouds how he sees himself and the value of his life. At this point in the novel, it is evident that Hazel’s self-image is tainted because she sees herself only as a cancer patient. Hazel’s reaction to denying her beauty shows how she lacks in her self-awareness and does not her see herself in such a positive light. I enjoy looking at beautiful people, and I decided a while ago not to deny myself the simpler pleasures of existence” (p. For instance, during her first conversation with Augustus after the support group meeting, he immediately tells Hazel “you’re beautiful. However, once she meets Augustus her perspective begins to shift as she reaches a higher understanding of who she is despite being a college student, there are many things she is unaware of with regards to her self-worth and value. Hazel references herself as a “grenade” waiting to explode and hurt those around her the grenade being as a metaphor for the cancer that is consuming her body and will eventually take her life (p. At the beginning of the novel, Hazel is someone who is guarded and refrains from obtaining close relationships with those around her because she believes it will cause harm to those she cares for when she eventually passes due to her terminal illness. The novel offers readers a glimpse into the life of cancer patients and how it shapes the way they see themselves and their relationships.
Green’s text is not centred on the traditional educational setting of campus life but rather focuses on how these characters obtain higher knowledge of themselves and the world around them through their experiences as a couple which impacts them as individuals. The novel as a whole addresses themes of love, sacrifice, commitment, and education as the two teenagers discover themselves in this coming-of-age novel.
Augustus, who also has a history with cancer, is quickly intrigued by Hazel and as their relationship continues to grow he plans a trip to Amsterdam where the two will meet Peter Van Houten, a writer Hazel deeply admires but is revealed to be a complete failure. John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars (2012) speaks from the perspective of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a teenager combating cancer, who meets Augustus Waters at a cancer support group where they become friends and eventually fall in love.
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