A Love Story In Death'S Way
“Some infinities are bigger than other infinities. ” (Pg. 260) The quote, used by John Green in his book, The Fault in Our Stars, was used to describe how everyone has a chance at having their own infinity, regardless of how long their infinity lasts. Green’s book tells about the grand love story between the main characters, Hazel and Augustus, who just happen to have been diagnosed with cancer. Throughout the book, insight is shown on how unexpected life is, and how, at times, it can be taken for granted; all while having been given a front row seat to teenage romance and what it is like to live with cancer.
The story opens with the story’s narrator as well as main character, Hazel Grace Lancaster, talking to her reading audience about how much her life sucks. Hazel was diagnosed with stage four thyroid cancer, a terminal disease, at the age of thirteen. After a trial test of Phalanxifor, an imaginary treatment created by the author, Hazel’s cancer improved, which allowed her to have more time than expected. Currently aged sixteen, she must carry an oxygen tank everywhere she goes to be able to get the oxygen that she needs. Hazel considers her depression stage as normal due to her circumstances. In fact, she said, “Depression is not a side effect of cancer. Depression is a side effect of dying. ” (Pg. 1) At the order of her physician, as well as her mother, Hazel attends a cancer support group once every week, even though she dislikes it. On what promised to be a regular support group meeting, Hazel met Augustus Waters. In the meeting, Gus introduced himself and told them he was in remission for a year and a half, after having had osteosarcoma, cancer in the bones, which caused him to lose his right leg. After the main characters are introduced to each other, it can be said that their grandiose love story began. As put by Hazel “I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once. ” (Pg. 125)
After being introduced, Hazel and Gus become immediate friends. They hang out frequently, and even bond over An Imperial Affliction. (A book also invented by the author) The book is about Anna, a girl diagnosed with cancer. As put by Hazel, “It’s not a cancer book, because cancer books suck. ” [Look up where it says this in the book] This book, written by the imaginary Peter Van Houten, conveys to its readers the struggles of living with cancer, and eventually a death caused by the disease. Because of how much they love this book, Gus uses his wish from The Genie Foundation, they grant a wish to kids that may die, to be able to go to Amsterdam with Hazel to meet Peter Van Houten, in the hopes of getting answers to their questions regarding the book’s ending. As they plan their trip, Hazel suffers complications due to fluid collecting in her lungs and ends up in the hospital for a few days. When she is finally discharged from the hospital, Gus tells her that their trip is cancelled because her doctors do not see it wise that she travels after her hospital visit. Regardless, after making progress, the trip was scheduled again and the pair where ready to get their answers.
Once in the Netherlands, the pair are excited and pay a visit to Van Houten. However, once they are inside his home, they are startled to see their prized author to be nothing but an alcoholic jerk. Not only was he rude to them, he also attacked Hazel for her cancer and even came to tell her “You are a failed experiment in mutation. ” (Pg. 193) Disappointed and angered after meeting Van Houten, the pair decide to not let it ruin their trip, they go about Amsterdam happily. On their last day in the city, Gus confesses to Hazel that his cancer has returned and is stronger. Saddened by their misfortune, they return home.
Once home, Gus immediately starts treatment, with Hazel by his side. As Gus’ condition worsens, Hazel finds it harder to cope with him, since he is just persistent that he is going to die and has abandoned any hope to get better.
At the end of the book, the happy and charming main character, Augustus Waters, dies from his disease, but not without leaving his beloved an epilogue written for her. After reading it, Hazel is convinced that however short their infinity was, and despite its tragic end, it was something she would not change anything about it.
When it comes to the expectations of the book, reviewer Aestas said “I expected it to be mostly a sad book, but it really was not, at least, not until the last third. ” As put by her, the book was more than just a cancer book (Green), it showed the readers how unexpected and unfair life can be at times. It also showed how things get taken for granted all the time. Look at Hazel and Augustus, everyone expected Hazel to die and, in the end, Gus unexpectedly got his cancer back, and died.
Overall, as put by Aestas, “Not all stories have happy endings, but it doesn’t make their journey any less beautiful. ” This being, even though Hazel and Gus did not have a happily ever after, or a long happy life together, this did not prevent them from relishing their love. In fact, it could be said that they experienced more happiness in their short period together than many do throughout their entire lives. In the book, Green shows his readers how complex life really is, and that happiness is always attainable to anyone who is willing to look for it, all while teaching his readers that the worst mistake they could commit is taking things for granted.
