Looking For Alaska Symbolism Essay

Looking for Alaska is a novel written by John Green. The novel was written in 2005 and since then has won many awards such as the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. This novel is found relatable by many teenagers and it also contains many literary symbols. Some of those symbols include: the lake, last words, and white flowers. One of the various symbols that occurred regularly was the smoking hole.
The smoking hole is a place where Pudge, Alaska, The Colonel, and Takumi all feel comfortable smoking and hanging out at. The smoking hole symbolizes rebellion, freedom, and the connection between the characters. It represents rebellion because they are smoking there and they are not supposed to be smoking at all. The

Hyde’s classroom. When class was over Takumi, Pudge, and The Colonel all started following Alaska in silence. The group then came to a dirt path when The Colonel ran to catch up to Alaska and they started arguing. Pudge finally asked Takumi where they were headed, Takumi answered, “This road dead-ends into the barn, so maybe there. But probably the old smoking hole. You’ll see.” They then got to the smoking hole which was nothing more than chairs placed on a slab of concrete under a bridge. It was secluded and was a place where they could escape the pressures of daily life on campus. Pudge, The Colonel, and Alaska all smoked and thus the smoking hole was born again.
At one point, the smoking hole represents self-preservation. Takumi convinced Pudge he needed a cigarette after finding out that Alaska’s room had been flooded on purpose. Pudge and Takumi started walking towards the smoking hole and then when they reached the dirt road Takumi said, “Not sure if the Hole is safe.” He then explained that the Eagle could know about it. Takumi then revealed that he figured out that Alaska had ratted Paul and Marya out in order to take the blame off her and remain on the Eagle’s good