Blog #5

 One of the recurring themes that are shown in most John Green writings is the plot of self-discovery. Toward the end of the book, most of the characters recognizes the change within themselves from the beginning of the plot. John Green uses specific events and experiences to help the character grow out of their limited perspective. In Looking for Alaska, John Green sets the growth of Miles Halter by using external conflicts like "friends" and "death"to help guide him in his self-discovery, he was the character that showed the most self-discovery within himself. Due to the novel being written in Miles persona (first person), we are able to see this self-discovery due to the help of Mile's inner thoughts and perspective. John Green develops this theme of self-discovery by having the plot start off with Miles Halter as an awkward boy searching for his "Great Perhaps". Green then creates the setting of Culver Creek to be the place where most of the action leading to his self discovery takes place. With the help of external conflicts,which is his friends, he would then experience the events leading to him experiencing life which will help him grow. Most importantly, John Green throws in a climactic moment, when he decided that Alaska Young will die. This will create the discovery of Miles when he realizes that a new part of him is filled with regret, guilt, love, sadness, bitterness and he will begin to understand himself better by experiencing all these new feelings and thoughts. The message John Green is setting out to the readers is, life is all about searching for "Great Perhaps" and our "Great Perhaps" can be determined within our self and our experiences with life.