James Celiberti Davenport English IV 20 February 2023 A Better Life In the novel Looking for Alaska by John Green, the readers are introduced to a boarding school atmosphere that’s lived out through the main character, Miles Halter, an average and ordinary teen. The setting takes place in Culver Creek boarding school in 2005, Alabama. During the story, Miles meets Chip “The Colonel” Martin, Takumi Hikohito, and Alaska Young. The four eventually end up as best friends and form a friend group. Together they take on life away from home and struggles that revolve around dorm life. Right off the bat, the readers are introduced to the “Great Perhaps”, a quote that Miles lives by and was the reason he even left his comfortable life at home to live …show more content…
Miles first mentions the quote early on when he informs his parents about why he wanted to go to Culver Creek in the first place. He states that he wanted to go to the school to find his “Great Perhaps”. Later on in the book Miles also suggests that he doesn’t want to die before he finds it, suggesting that ultimately a “Greater Perhaps” means some sort of improvement within a person or represents finding one's place in the world. Miles as a character is someone who generally has a good relationship with his parents, has friends in his hometown and has no significant issues at first glance. When someone decides to transfer mid highschool year to a boarding school, there’s usually a reason other than just doing it to do it. In Miles’ case, his …show more content…
At a very young age, she watched her mother die in the kitchen from a brain aneurysm. Since she was very young at the time and didn’t know what to do, she didn’t call nine-one-one and instead just stood there in horror and watched. Because of this, she and her father don’t have a good relationship, due to her dad taking it out on her constantly and making her feel terrible. The reader also can conclude that the relationship between Alaska and her father is still bad because she is always avoiding going home during breaks. When it comes to Alaska’s “Greater Perhaps” it’s complicated. Early on Alaska is smoking a cigarette with Miles when he asks her why she finishes her cigarettes so fast. Alaska responds by saying she “Smokes to die”. Alaska is not happy in her life, however, for the rest of the book except for when she dies, she’s constantly hanging out with her friends. The fact that she shows interest in her friends, must mean that she still values a little bit of life. This is where the reader can somewhat conclude that she deep down does enjoy certain things about life and that it’s not all just an annoyance. A “Great Perhaps” for Alaska could represent a happy ending where she can get over the passing of her mom while becoming mentally stable to where life is comfortable. Or for short, finding