If you’ve become connected to the characters in this story, then Chapters 17 - 21 were packed with an emotional punch. On Friday, we spent some time analyzing, interpreting and discussing some of the "poignant moments" and powerful quotes from the previous days' reading. Here are some of our reactions.
“This is all you get. You get me, and your family, and this world. This is your life. I’m sorry if it sucks. But you’re not going to be the first man on Mars, and you’re not going to be an NBA star, and you’re not going to hunt Nazis. I mean, look at yourself, Gus.” (p. 241)
Marissa says...Hazel is talking to Augustus in his basement after he "pissed the bed." Augustus shouldn't assume that leading a meaningful life means doing heroic things. He needs to look at the realistic side of things and learn to accept what's right in front of him.
Deandra says...Hazel just wants Gus to know that he has what he has and it's not going to change. He doesn't have to be famous to have a meaningful life. Hazel is using "tough love"
“This is it. I can’t even not smoke anymore.” (p. 245)
Nyjelika says...Augustus feels weak and unpowerful because now he can't do things on his own.
Zami says...Gus always wants to be in control. The cancer has taken control, now he can't even not smoke. Without his cigarettes, he's not himself.
Marissa says...Gus is talking to Hazel at the gas station. The metaphor has lost its power and the killing thing now resides in his body and consumes him. He has nearly given up.
“I can’t talk about our love story, so I will talk about math.” (p. 260)
Rosa says...Hazel is talking to Gus at the pre-funeral. What belongs to she and Gus is theirs alone. They said that their love dies with them. So she honored that and kept it for her.
Amanda says...Hazel is saying this as her eulogy at the pre-funeral. Hazel isn't mushy and she is responding in a way that makes sense to her.
Anna says...Hazel said that their love stayed between her and Gus so she used other ways to describe how her loss felt.
“I called it a nine because I was saving my ten.” (p.263)
Aleeyia says...Hazel was thinking back to when she went to the hospital and could barely breathe and couldn't talk but she only rated her pain a nine when the doctors asked. At this point in the book, Hazel has finally reached a 10 on the pain scale because Gus died. She finally found her love and he passes away. I feel pretty bad for her.
Colin says...this shows the division of emotional pain versus physical pain.
“When the scientists of the future show up at my house with robot eyes and they tell me to try them on, I will tell the scientists to screw off…” (p. 258).
Deandra says...This is Isaac talking at the fake funeral. Isaac speaks of the future without Gus. If in the future robot eyes are invented and he had the chance to see, he wouldn't want to see a world without his "smart ass" best friend. It would break his heart.
I knew these people were genuinely sad, and that I wasn’t really mad at them. I was mad at the Universe. Even so, it infuriated me: You get all these friends just when you don’t need friends anymore.” (p. 266)
Jaden says... Hazel is looking at Gus's facebook page after he died. People say they knew Gus, when they really didn't. It is kind of disrespectful to Gus when Hazel took the time to know him.
Marissa says...We put the deceased on a pedestal, praising them for their long, hard struggle and determination. Ironically, this usually happens right after death when (some) people are filled with regret and remorse.
Ty'Keisha says...This shows that Hazel thinks no one cares until it's too late.
Anna says...People only started to appreciate him when he was gone and that they were being disrespectful.
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