Holden is posing insightful questions very important to understanding Quentin's struggle - such as whether he is a hero or a fool, something Margo will bring up himself - Quentin clearly will not listen, even demonstrating uncharacteristic disregard for school, one of the effects of his obsession with tracking Margo. After this, Green, back in the narrating voice of Quentin, writes, "I wrote down as much as I could of what she said, realizing that I could probably pull off my final reaction paper without actually reading the book"(p.159). But you could also argue that there is something tragically heroic about fighting this battle he is doomed to lose"(p.159). You can argue.that Ahab is a fool for being obsessed.
Holden, "You never see Ahab wanting anything else in the whole novel, do you? He has a singular obsession. Green parallels Quentin's obsession with Margo by having Quentin's teacher Dr. He denies his schoolwork and even skips school altogether, fights with his friends, and spends the night in an abandoned building curled up with a blanket that smells faintly of her. It is no question that Quentin's relationship with Margo after she disappears verges on obsession. While Quentin's friendships with Ben and Radar were once overshadowed by his love for Margo, he ultimately learns to appreciate them and recognize their loyalty to him. Once timid and complacent, Lacy grows more comfortable with expressing her opinions to those who truly care to listen. Lacy, who was once a casual friend to Margo, criticizes Margo for her lack of regard for her supposed "friend's" feelings. Quentin eventually comes to realize that his platonic friendships with Radar, Ben, and Lacy are more fulfilling to him than a relationship with an idolized mirage.Īs Quentin discovers himself and Margo in a realistic light, he begins to prioritize the individuals in his life who have shown genuine care for him. Margo learns to stop fleeing responsibility, and in turn loses Quentin as the realization comes too late. Quentin's occurs as he comes to terms with the false representation he has created of his childhood crush. The search for one's strings represent the identity crisis both Quentin and Margo undergo. This memory, and the idea of strings follow Quentin years later. "Maybe all the strings inside him broke," Margo infers (p. Quentin is disgusted, while Margo's fascination is piqued. In the beginning of the novel, Quentin recalls a memory in which he and Margo discover a deceased man's body in a park. These strings represent emotional stability and inner peace. Margo repeatedly references the idea of metaphorical "strings" that hold a person together. Very few teenagers have a complete, mature understanding of their identity, and the characters of Paper Towns are no exception. This growth stems from him overcoming his false perceptions and seeing his love in a truer light.
Although he will always love her in some way, Quentin realizes that he can no longer put his life on hold for her. After discovering her whereabouts, Margo shows little concern for what Quentin, her friends, and her family has gone through in her absence. Quentin romanticizes most aspects of Margo's personality, which are later revealed as capricious and selfish. He clings to the memories they shared as children, although in reality, Margo has long since abandoned her innocence and Quentin's friendship. What he idolizes is a mere image that looks like Margo: a flawless, beautiful object to be sought after. Quentin spends much of the book obsessing over Margo, to the point where he loses touch of reality.