Volume 16, No 2, 2019
Religious Implications In John Green’s Looking For Alaska
Abish K , Dr. D L Jaisy
Abstract
John Green using metaphor and symbol explores these tensions inherent in the visceral aspect of life in Looking for Alaska. Green’s use of metaphorical connections is prominent in his development of the characters who play key roles in his portrayal of spirit. Alaska Young is the primary character metaphor, but Dr. Hyde, the World Religions teacher, also plays a significant role. Both are central to Green’s creation of a story that unsettles the binaries that characterize traditional formulations of the spiritual. Alaska and Hyde each provide a metaphorical link to the religious polarity and variety of spiritual views in modem America, as well as to the pain and suffering that are part of every human life. Despite interpreting these issues differently, these characters share common ground, and Green uses them to offer us a picture of the spirit that has a quality.
Pages: 348-356
Keywords: Religion, spiritual, human life, pain and suffering.