Eckert/Page 2

Travis Eckert

Wentworth, Lindsay

English 101; 4th period

December 1st 2006

Looking For Alaska

Miles Halter is a student at Culver Creek that is fascinated by memorizing people’s last words, and at Culver Creek he will go through so much, not to mention meeting the youthful beauty Alaska Young. John Green demonstrates believability through love, reminiscing, and experimentation to show the phases of growing up. Now, come into the world of Miles Halter and his journey at Culver Creek.

Miles Halter is unsure about love and comes upon Alaska, who is taken. But now, Alaska has put her hand on Miles’ leg while lying on the ground together. Miles is getting all of the generic love emotions “I thought it might be a fine time to say the Three Little Words.” (62). Miles does not know if it is right, but he has mixed emotions which happens so many times in real life.

Now, Miles is not always the best kid, especially when hanging out with his friends. He smokes and drinks, which he enjoys. Miles now is passing the bottle around with his friends drinking and reminiscing about how much he likes Alaska and booze, even enough to compare and contrast the two “I wanted to like booze more than I actually did which is more or less the precise opposite of how I felt about Alaska. (111). Miles is having a good time and is loosening up. He always thinks about Alaska when he is relaxed and with her.

Miles thinks drinking is exciting.. That is his fun for the most part but, why does he drink, or at least why does he have fun when drinking “Why did we drink? For me, it was just fun, particularly since we were risking expulsion.” (111). He is having fun, with alcohol, but nevertheless fun. Also, the risk of expulsion gave him excitement, which would bring a thrill ride for some.

Miles has gone through a lot, and many others have probably gone through something he has. Miles Halter’s journey is shown through John Green’s representation of Miles’ conflict and real life through love, reminiscing, and experimentation to show the phases of growing up. So what would you do, if the love of your life suddenly died, and you could never know their last words?