Paper Towns Character Analysis Essay

Riding a bike without training wheels is a uniquely exciting and yet intimidating experience in nearly every child’s lifetime. Many can still remember the anticipation felt when watching the wheels on their bikes disappear one by one; many recall the slight uneasiness that came with gripping the handlebars for the first time and feeling the tremble of the transformed object beneath them. Of course, such a transition rarely comes easily and is often accompanied by an endless supply of band-aids and tears. However, after all is said and done, the struggles and the wheels are almost always stored away and forgotten. Similarly in life, it is important to accept challenges and be willing to set goals that exceed one’s comfort zone. As human beings, we often find ourselves dependent on the safety of our “training wheels,” and are burdened by the limitations we place on ourselves. However, it is imperative that we learn to break free of these borders and pursue higher goals as sources of personal growth. By overcoming our fears, we may discover hidden strengths and talents and defeat the obstacles that
In the novel Paper Towns, by John Green, Quentin Jacobsen is not the typical protagonist, as he lacks the adventurous and daring personality that is generally associated with a hero. Viewed by the other characters of the novel as quiet and obedient, Quentin strays far from his comfort zone and challenges others’ opinions of him, as he embarks on a long journey to find his friend, Margo Roth Spiegelman. In this coming of age novel, Quentin transforms drastically and embraces an aspect of his personality that had not existed prior to his great adventure. By countering the image that his friends and family had of him throughout the book, Quentin becomes a much stronger person and eventually realizes all that he is capable