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Aza's Character Development In The Novel 'Turtles All The Way Down'

903 Words4 Pages

Safeer Rafique
Mr.Grant
ENG1DI
13 June 2023
Aza’s Character Development Throughout Turtles All The Way Down
“I’m stuck in my head so much, but imagine being actually stuck inside my head with no way out” (Green 139). This is how the main character Aza Holmes feels in the novel Turtles All The Way Down by John Green. At the beginning of the novel Aza is seen as being in her head and keeping to herself. However, as the novel progresses, Aza starts to open up to people and gain confidence. At the end of the novel, her character matures and learns how to live with her illness. Throughout the novel Turtles All the Way Down, the main character, Aza, gains confidence as she confronts her fears and learns to trust herself …show more content…

One of the turning points in her character development is when she meets Davis, a boy she used to know from her childhood: “Anybody can look at you. It’s quite rare to find someone who sees the same world you see” (Green 13). Aza finds it difficult to confide in others, but she feels comfortable enough to open up to Davis. As they spend more time together, she gradually shares more about herself. During her argument with Daisy, she finally expresses her feelings and opens up by saying, “I’m sorry it’s not fun hanging out with me because I’m stuck in my head so much, but imagine being actually stuck inside my head with no way out, with no way to ever take a break from it, because that’s my life” (Green 139). Over the course of her disagreement with Daisy, she discovers how to develop and articulate her emotions. With the aid of those around her, Aza makes strides in discussing her feelings and boosting her …show more content…

The pivotal point in her character development occurs when she begins to take charge of her anxiety after her car accident: “Even after they let me go home, Dr. Singh still came to my house twice a week to check on my progress. I had switched to a different medication, which Mom made sure I took every morning, and I wasn’t allowed to get up except to go to the bathroom lest I re-lacerate my liver“ (Green 151 ). In the story's conclusion, Aza receives assistance from those around her, allowing her to take her medication consistently and work towards improving her mental health. This quote highlights the supportive nature of those in her circle. While changing her bandages in the washroom, Aza finally confronts her emotions: “I would always be like this, always have this within me. There was no beating it. I would never slay the dragon, because the dragon was also me. Myself and the disease were knotted together for life. In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life—it goes on'' (Green 178). Aza faces her emotions and learns to accept herself and move forward in life. She manages to get over her fear and figure out how to go on as the novel comes to an

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