No one ever said Looking for Alaska was a light-hearted read, and when we see how many characters suffer and the ways in which they suffer, the weight almost seems to drag us down. Miles, whether he wants to or not, is stuck tackling some really big ideas about suffering, stuff like how suffering is related to deceit, pain, and living, and what happens to the dead—and the living—after someone dies. Characters cope with their personal suffering in different ways, and some of these strike a chord with us as readers.
In the end, Miles and the Colonel come to some pretty mature views of suffering and pain, and the hope they feel makes the pain of suffering almost bearable.
Questions About Suffering
- In what ways do Miles and the Colonel suffer throughout the story? (Think beyond Alaska's death—consider relationships, deceptions, academics, love, and family.)
- How does Alaska cope with her suffering before her death? How do Miles, the Colonel, Takumi, and Lara manage their suffering after Alaska's death?
- Why does the Colonel choose the labyrinth of suffering?
- What does Miles think about suffering at the end of the story?
Chew on This
Alaska's pain causes her to commit suicide.
The pain the characters feel in the story makes their joys that much more meaningful.