John Green Research Paper

When one thinks of American literature, books from authors like Nathaniel Hawthorne and F. Scott Fitzgerald comes to mind. These books are rich with distinct themes which defines these works as a classic piece of American literature. A common theme found in American literature is suffering. At one point every person has experienced some suffering or loss. Suffering is a part of human nature which even authors like John Green has experienced. John Green is a modern day writer who is most recently known for his book The Fault in our Stars being produced into a movie. John Green may still be alive, unlike most classic American authors, but his works show a central theme found in American literature. Unlike many authors, John Green has taken …show more content…
When Miles, a teen with a fascination with last words, encounters Alaska he tells her the last words of Simon Bolivar which were, “How will I ever get out of the labyrinth!” The two ponder if the labyrinth he is trying to get out of is the one of darkness or light. The conversation ends with Alaska telling Miles that he must figure out what the labyrinth is and how one would get out of it (Green, “Alaska” 19-20). Time goes by and Miles cannot find what the labyrinth Bolivar was trying to get out of. After talking to her friends about the death of her mother, Alaska discovers which labyrinth Bolivar was trying to escape. Alaska states, “It's not life or death, the labyrinth. Suffering. 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 (Green, “Alaska”, 82)?” Suffering is impossible to avoid in life and adults often underestimate the impact events can have on a teen’s emotional …show more content…
A teen’s brain does not mature until the early 20s. During the teenage years the brain is reshaping, which makes it harder for teens to deal with stress and traumatic events (The Adolescent Brain: Beyond Raging Hormones). Teens cannot stop their body changing through their teenage years. It is a part of life. Life may get tough, and it is harder when your body is working against you. Adults believe teenagers are simply over thinking a situation when their emotions get out of hand. Adults should take a step back and really sit down with their kids, especially older ones, when a traumatic experience occurs. Teen’s cannot stop their bodies from changing, and they cannot stop life from happening so teens have to gain the ability to handle the ups and downs of