Two Major Literary Devices in the novel The Fault in Our Stars

   Books help people retain knowledge. Books help people connect with each other, whether they are from two faraway places. Books also teach people about life by telling stories about moral values and love. I was lucky to read the book in my English 10 class, The Fault in Our Star by John Green. The novel tells a story of two teenagers suffering cancer, yet they still appreciate and enjoy the gifts of life. It is a touching book that teaches me a lot about the value of life through two very beautiful souls. I am impressed at the way the novel uses metaphor to build its beautiful characters and employs references to give the story a deep and thoughtful meaning. 

   Metaphor is an essential component of the novel that construct a foundation on which the main characters are built. There are two very important metaphors in the story. The first is Augustus’s cigarette, and the second is Hazel’s grenade. These two metaphors make Hazel and Augustus more interesting, smart, and thoughtful. On page 20, Augustus Water stand bravely next to a Hazel who has lung cancer, and put a cigarette in between his lips. He says to her as she gets mad, “They don’t kill you unless you light them, and I’ve never lit one. It’s a metaphor, see: You put the killing thing right between your teeth, but you don’t give it the power to do its killing” (20). How splendid! Everyone knows that cigarettes can cause cancer and other lung-related diseases. Some people even call it a “cancer stick”. However, Augustus is different. He has the name Augustus, an ancient Roman emperor, and he wants to maintain the ruling over his life. In order to achieve that, he but a “cancer stick” between his lips, without lighting it up. This is his way of showing that he is in control of his empire, not his nurses, his doctors, his parents, or even cancer. Then we have Hazel, the most important piece of the puzzle. Hazel is a sixteen year old girl who loves books, especially a book called An Imperial Affliction by Peter Van Houten. However, as much as her family loves her, she is depressed, to the point that she thinks she is a grenade that will eventually hurt everyone. She says, “I’m like. Like a grenade, mom. I’m a grenade and at some point I’m going to blow up, and I would like to minimize the casualties, okay?” (39). She shuts herself in her world of having only family and books with no friends except for one outside of her cancer support group. She is afraid that she will break the hearts of everyone. She “would like to minimize the casualties” (39) because she loves and cares for her loved ones. The grenade metaphor paints a picture of a girl who feels insecure about her health and unable to reach for love. She is stuck on the second level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (212) which dictated five levels that human care about depend on needs. She is stuck at that stage until Augustus says: “Oh, I wouldn’t mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you” (176). Finally, Hazel gives herself permission to love and to be loved. She realizes that it’s okay to be a grenade, and she move from the second level of the pyramid to the top of it. From the two examples above, we can see that metaphor is important for the novel. 

    Another key component for a strong story foundation is the use of reference. It is just as important as the metaphor in giving depth to the novel’s meaning. References act as analogies to express the meaning of the story. Through out the novel, there are several references such as Shakespear’s play “Julius Caesar”, Anne Frank, and with the most important one being the Sword of Damocles. Damocles was a member of king Dionysius’s court in the 4th century BC. He praised that the king was truly fortunate as a man of great power, authority and wealth. Dionysius answered back by inviting Damocles to the castle, allowing Damocles to feast on the most delicious food and to view valuable treasure. Damocles eventually glanced up and saw in horror as a sword was hanging right above his head by a single thread of horsehair. Dionysius explained to his horrified court member that death was always hung above a king’s head despite how great the power he had, or how rich he was. It’s just as fearful as living with cancer. Death is always by their sides, whether they are declared “NEC – No Evidence of Cancer” or not. Cancer is just like the Sword of Damocles, hanging above a poor soul’s head, ready to finish a life whether they are talented or not. The prime examples are Patrick, Isaac, Hazel, and Augustus. Augustus has been declared NEC for fourteen months (83). He is a survivor of cancer. However, the fearful Sword of Damocles still falls into his head. Sometimes, life is ironic and cruel. At the end of their Amsterdam, Augustus confesses with Hazel that his cancer is back. Osteosarcoma is now all over his body. The reference “Sword of Damocles” is an analogy of a life with cancer, that life could end any minute. It links to the existential theme of the novel that life is short but precious. We should cherish our life while we still can. From the above example, we can see that reference is as important as metaphor in sending a powerful message. 

   Through references and metaphors, the novel gains its thoughtful depth and beautiful meaning. I would recommend this book to everyone. This is a book that reminds us to live our lives to the fullest despite the inherent challenges that comes along the way.

Work Cited

Green, John. The Fault in Our Stars. Penguin Book, 2012.