Augustus vs. His Fear of Oblivion

Augustus's desperate need to be remembered and to die heroically, which conflicts with the reality of his cancer death.

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The Fear Expressed

The Fear Expressed The Confession Augustus says he fears oblivion. He wants to be remembered. He wants to leave a mark. Hazel's Response Hazel gives a speech about the eventual end of all memory. Augustus is intrigued but not comforted. The Unlit Cigarette His metaphor of the unlit cigarette shows his desire to flirt with danger without succumbing.

The Heroic Fantasy

The Heroic Fantasy The Video Game Sacrifice Augustus dives on a grenade in a video game to save fictional children. He says all salvation is temporary. The Nazi Hunting Fantasy At the Anne Frank House, he jokes about becoming a disabled vigilante. He wants to right wrongs. The Death Suit He buys a suit for his own funeral. He wants a dramatic death. He wants to be a hero.

The Civil War

The Civil War The Reality Augustus realizes his cancer is a civil war. He cannot fight it without fighting himself. There is no heroic battle. The Loss of Hope He says he doesn't even get a battle. He feels robbed. He breaks down. The Acceptance With Hazel's help, he begins to accept. He writes a letter to Van Houten about noticing things. He finds a different kind of heroism.

First Support Group meeting

Throughout the story

After recurrence revealed