Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters would openly refute Cassius' claim by asserting that the ‘fault’ most assuredly IS in their stars NOT in themselves that they are underlings. Both mature beyond their years, the teenaged pair embark on a journey that will certainly end far sooner than either would desire. The thief commonly known as cancer in her many deadly, varied forms reminds them at every turn that they are operating on borrowed time. Deciding that “’tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all’” the star-crossed duo surrender and bond over a shared attraction and appreciation for literature, namely Hazel’s favorite text An Imperial Affliction written by a grieving, lonely recluse from which they often quote both in banter and in reverence. When a scare lands Hazel into the intensive care unit, the reality of imminent death becomes concrete causing Augustus to exhaust his “cancer perk” from the Make a Wish Foundation to fulfill Hazel’s dying wish. Both the trip and the end of the text defy all expectation for both readers and characters alike when cancer's deadly fist closes and suffocates Augustus instead of Hazel.
Situational irony is my favorite component of a well-crafted text. I delight in being proven wrong at the unraveling of an intricate plot. Though relieved that Hazel continued to "fight the good fight" within the final pages, August's passing created a hole in the hearts of all who loved him - fictional characters and actual readers.
No comments:
Post a Comment