JOHN GREEN’S THE FAULT IN OUR STARS: A PSYCHOLOGICAL REVIEW OF ADOLESCENTS WITH CANCER

Abstract

This paper deals with the Psychological Struggle of young adults with cancer about‘THE FAULT IN OUR STARS’ a contemporary young adult novel written by John Green. This title is inspired by the line "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings."  These lines were said by nobleman Cassius to Brutus in Act 1, Scene 2 of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. The title The Fault in Our Stars gives the impression that sometimes-bad stuff happens in life that can’t be our fault and can’t be avoided at any cost. Unbiased like Hazel and Augustus didn't do anything to root cause their cancer but they can’t avoid or change the fact. They give us a beautiful message that they can still live life and make their own decisions despite the fault in their stars, even when they know the predictable fate that awaits them. This novel is John green’s fourth solo novel and overall, the sixth novel was published on January 10, 2012. This novel is narrated by a 16-year-old girl named Hazel Grace Lancaster who suffers from thyroid cancer that has affected her lungs. She was forced to attend a cancer support group by her parents where she later meets and falls in love with Augustus Waters, a 17-year-old ex-basketball player who has a type of cancer that causes him to lose his leg and wear a prosthetic and also has a survival rate that is much higher than Hazel's death sentence. This novel has received critical praise for its humour, language, strong characters, themes and a new outlook on cancer and romance. This paper discusses the writer’s sensitivity to bring out the sufferings caused by both cancer and psychological struggles in the novel about protagonists. This paper also focused more on Hazel and Augustus’ psychological circumstances, their cancer illness, and their intense fear of life and death despite being raised in such a complex health issue. This paper gives an appeal to the sense of humour and courage of Hazel and Augustus who hides their pain to protect their families. This paper discusses how does the writer bring both tears and laughter through strong characters, Hazel and Augustus, in the novel. This paper discusses the main theme such as family, coming of age, life and death, being different, Religion and Philosophy. This paper discusses the writer’s sensitivity to bring out the sufferings caused by both cancer and psychological struggles in the novel about protagonists. The paper addresses adolescents with health issues and how to be positive enough to live life at the present moment.  Hence, this paper is entitled JOHN GREEN’S THE FAULT IN OUR STARS: A PSYCHOLOGICAL REVIEW OF ADOLESCENTS WITH CANCER is much important to understand the psychological issues of an adolescent with health issues for better empowerment of youth.