Looking for Alaska Themes
Looking for Alaska Themes
Friendship
The novel opens with Miles’s going away party where only two acquaintances of Miles attend. With no true friends from his old school, Miles moves to Culver Creek. At first Miles is hesitant with his friendships - awkwardly unable to engage and unsure of whom to follow – but he slowly learns to be himself around his new friends. We learn that Miles values his new friendships by the way that he strictly adheres to the Colonel’s “no ratting” policy and shares both his time and money in order to smoke and drink alcohol, activities in which he had not previously engaged. As the novel progresses, Miles transforms from a loner to a typical teenage trying to understand the intricacies of complicated friendships, particularly his friendship with Alaska.
Pursuit of the Great Perhaps
As he transitions from his old school to his new life at Culver Creek, Pudge goes in search of the Great Perhaps. Constantly unsatisfied with his current state, the pursuit of the Great Perhaps gives Pudge hope for a better, more exciting life. However, the Great Perhaps is not a singular moment, but rather appreciating the moments that you have. It becomes increasingly clear that the Great Perhaps is all around Pudge, but he is only able to see that when he lives in the moment as he does during the notorious fireworks prank on the Eagle. The pursuit of the Great Perhaps prevents Pudge from experiencing the Great Perhaps as it happens. Only after Alaska’s death that Pudge realizes that the Great Perhaps is has always been there and will continue to be there because he is alive.
Religion
Though none of the characters are described as religious, Pudge is enrolled in Dr. Hyde’s world religion class. Dr. Hyde poses numerous questions about life, death, and the idea of being present in the moment through the lens of religious beliefs. As Pudge engages with questions from class, they reverberate in his pursuit of the Great Perhaps and become especially salient in
Friendship
The novel opens with Miles’s going away party where only two acquaintances of Miles attend. With no true friends from his old school, Miles moves to Culver Creek. At first Miles is hesitant with his friendships - awkwardly unable to engage and unsure of whom to follow – but he slowly learns to be himself around his new friends. We learn that Miles values his new friendships by the way that he strictly adheres to the Colonel’s “no ratting” policy and shares both his time and money in order to smoke and drink alcohol, activities in which he had not previously engaged. As the novel progresses, Miles transforms from a loner to a typical teenage trying to understand the intricacies of complicated friendships, particularly his friendship with Alaska.
Pursuit of the Great Perhaps
As he transitions from his old school to his new life at Culver Creek, Pudge goes in search of the Great Perhaps. Constantly unsatisfied with his current state, the pursuit of the Great Perhaps gives Pudge hope for a better, more exciting life. However, the Great Perhaps is not a singular moment, but rather appreciating the moments that you have. It becomes increasingly clear that the Great Perhaps is all around Pudge, but he is only able to see that when he lives in the moment as he does during the notorious fireworks prank on the Eagle. The pursuit of the Great Perhaps prevents Pudge from experiencing the Great Perhaps as it happens. Only after Alaska’s death that Pudge realizes that the Great Perhaps is has always been there and will continue to be there because he is alive.
Religion
Though none of the characters are described as religious, Pudge is enrolled in Dr. Hyde’s world religion class. Dr. Hyde poses numerous questions about life, death, and the idea of being present in the moment through the lens of religious beliefs. As Pudge engages with questions from class, they reverberate in his pursuit of the Great Perhaps and become especially salient in