Symbolism Of The Symbols Of Alaska's 'Alaska'

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Alaska:
Alaska did not really have a name until she was seven years old, when she chose the name “Alaska.” She chose it because when she saw it on the globe, she decided she wanted to be like it when she grew up; big and far away from her home. She had a tragic childhood in which she felt overlooked. Taking “Alaska” as her name seemed like a way for her to redeem herself and turn her life around, shaping it around the meaning behind her name.

Cigarettes:
Cigarettes are a symbol of defiance. The characters smoke cigarettes throughout the novel realize that cigarettes are a way to comfort and relieve themselves from stress, but most of them know they do nothing. To Pudge, they are a way to relax and rebel against the Eagle’s rules. To Alaska, however, smoking is a way for her to slowly fade away. She said, “Yall smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die”(44).

White Flowers:
When Alaska got in the car accident, there was a bouquet of white flowers in the backseat. White daisies and tulips had always been her favorite kind of flower. She was always picking them around Culver Creek whenever sh...

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