Literature on the side of the narrator: Miles Halter in Looking for Alaska In the novel Looking for Alaska, John Green narrates through the character Miles Halter, portraying the story and characters from the perspective of an outsider. However, because we have direct insight into Miles’ thoughts and feelings, we are able to sympathize with him and we can relate to him through his internal, emotional confusions about love and friendship. Although I find Miles relatable, he is not a reliable narrator, especially when he is reminiscing about Alaska after her tragic death. While Miles doesn’t always provide us with the most accurate representation of the truth, I believe it is this reason that Green chose to make him the narrator; Miles’ narration
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On page 49, Miles narrates, “I wanted to be one of those people who have streaks to maintain, who scorch the ground with their intensity. But for now, at least I knew such people, and they needed me, just like comets need tails” (49). Not recognizing his worth as a friend to the Colonel or Alaska is part of what makes Miles so relatable to readers, because most of us have felt the same way before. Additionally, as readers, we sympathize with Miles’ unrequited love towards Alaska, especially since he depicts her as a beautiful girl who would be the perfect match for him. Because of this, it is particularly upsetting when Alaska dies and Miles must find his ‘Great Perhaps’ without her, because “she had embodied the Great Perhaps—she had proved to me that it was worth it to leave behind my minor life for grander maybes, and now she was gone and with her my faith in perhaps” …show more content…
If Green had chosen Alaska to be the narrator, we might’ve received more insight to her true feelings for Miles and why she tried to drive to her mother’s grave while extremely intoxicated. However, if that were the case, it is likely that the novel would end with her death and leave us wondering what came to be of her Culver Creek friends. Contrarily, if Chip “the Colonel” Martin was the narrator, the novel would’ve taken on a wrathful tone which is not appropriate for the overall structure of this dramatic Young Adult
On page 49, Miles narrates, “I wanted to be one of those people who have streaks to maintain, who scorch the ground with their intensity. But for now, at least I knew such people, and they needed me, just like comets need tails” (49). Not recognizing his worth as a friend to the Colonel or Alaska is part of what makes Miles so relatable to readers, because most of us have felt the same way before. Additionally, as readers, we sympathize with Miles’ unrequited love towards Alaska, especially since he depicts her as a beautiful girl who would be the perfect match for him. Because of this, it is particularly upsetting when Alaska dies and Miles must find his ‘Great Perhaps’ without her, because “she had embodied the Great Perhaps—she had proved to me that it was worth it to leave behind my minor life for grander maybes, and now she was gone and with her my faith in perhaps” …show more content…
If Green had chosen Alaska to be the narrator, we might’ve received more insight to her true feelings for Miles and why she tried to drive to her mother’s grave while extremely intoxicated. However, if that were the case, it is likely that the novel would end with her death and leave us wondering what came to be of her Culver Creek friends. Contrarily, if Chip “the Colonel” Martin was the narrator, the novel would’ve taken on a wrathful tone which is not appropriate for the overall structure of this dramatic Young Adult