The Tree's Roots

In this novel, there are many minor characters, yet their presence seem to hold the pages together; the storyline would be nothing without these characters. Then, there’s the protagonist, Hazel Grace, who seems to dominate the novel, considering she narrates it. She’s the star of the book and she makes the book worth reading. However, I fail to see how she is the most important character in The Fault in Our Stars. Yes, she was important and yes, the story would be nothing without her. She’s the base of the tree but in my opinion, Augustus Waters proved to be the roots.

                Before Augustus makes his first appearance, Hazel’s life has no meaning and she seems to only attempt to live for the sake of her parents and to make them happy. There was no purpose. Augustus has changed her life profoundly and if he had never blessed the novel with his presence, its pages would also have no meaning, no purpose. It would be a boring novel about a girl with cancer and it would have no bigger purpose and a big waste of time. Green knew this and so Augustus Waters quickly soared to the top of the “best character” list for the book, The Fault in Our Stars.

                "‘Why are you looking at me like that?’ Augustus half smiled. ‘Because you're beautiful.’" (1.89-90). When Augustus speaks these words, Hazel Grace is met with something foreign. In the first few chapters of the book, the protagonist points out how she is not a normal teenager and that she hasn’t been normal since before her diagnosis. With his words, Augustus brings out a newfound confidence that Hazel has never before experienced. She’s never felt this way and she ends up liking the feeling and she doesn’t attempt to hide it with her excessive, nervous giggling and her obvious, pink blushing. Augustus essentially shows up and “rescues” Hazel from all the drudgery of being a cancer kid, and in return, Hazel’s whole entire attitude changes.

                In general, those who are diagnosed with cancer immediately think the worst, as Hazel does quite frequently with her pessimistic attitude. However, Augustus strays from the “cancer kid” stereotype. He’s positively optimistic about every little thing in life. "‘I fear oblivion,’" he said without a moment's pause. "‘I fear it like the proverbial blind man who's afraid of the dark.’" (1.56). He doesn’t want to die without leaving some sort of mark on the world and though people can’t help but laugh at him for it, he isn’t afraid to shout it to the world. At first, Hazel doesn’t seem to be about it. Her pessimism clashes with his optimism often. Augustus never lets it falter, however, and though she might not have wanted it at first, Augustus was the perfect person for her. She needed him to lift her spirits and give her a reason to live. Even past his death, his bright attitude seemed to die and reincarnate in Hazel.

                Hazel is an important character but Gus gives the book character and meaning. He teaches lessons and he lifts the spirits of readers.