Help understanding this quote.

[Brandon]

Hey guys.

I kind of need help understanding the quote about putting the killing thing right between your teeth but not giving it the power to do its killing. I mean, it's pretty simple and straightforward as a metaphor but I can't see the relation with the theme of the book? So reading about your interpretations would be great X

[pannams_t]

In my opinion, I think the whole point about this metaphor is that Gus knew he was gonna die so by putting the cigarette between his teeth is Gus's act of reassuring himself or will himself to be strong in a way, I guess. I mean I don't know, but this is what I think.

[Summer]

I think that makes sense. And also I see it as a way of being like "OK, death may have hold of me, but here's this thing, its only purpose death, but I'm not going to use it that way." Just because you're dying doesn't mean you can't stop something from doing its killing. It's like how Gus was always trying to save people in the video game, regardless of whether it helped the gameplay. It's the symbol of cheating death, or being heroic, rather than the actual act of thwarting death. Which rather links to the idea of self reassurance, but I'm not sure if that's how I see it.

[Brandon]

Wow, thanks a lot! You gave me a lot of perspective :)

[Jacquelyn]

Brandon wrote: "Hey guys.

I kind of need help understanding the quote about putting the killing thing right between your teeth but not giving it the power to do its killing. I mean, it's pretty simple and straigh..."

Well, cigarettes cause cancer, ironic seeing as he was a cancer survivor, and so by putting a "cancer-stick" between his teeth it was almost like showing cancer who's boss. Part of the metaphor is that by not lighting it, the cigarette is harmless. So as long as you don't do any provoking, you live a happy healthy life. Cancer unfortunately is not something that can always be provoked, sometimes it's random which is partly ironic because of this metaphor he provides seeing as he...... dies.... (*Goes to a corner.... tries not to cry.... cries a lot!!!! *)

[Rachel]

When I read it, I thought it was simply a statement of knowing death was out there, dealing with it every day, but not allowing it to get the best of you, especially as a cancer victim. Gives a whole new meaning to "by the skin of your teeth". But the perspective of the cigarette being cancer makes a lot of sense, and functions really well in the book, especially towards the end (*spoiler*) when she has to come get Augustus at the gas station. He wants to have a small victory over cancer and death even in the midst of losing the war.

[Kate]

I thought it might be a little about control too - the cancer is controlling death for him (even with NEC it's still hanging over him as a threat.) The not-smoking that's a death he can have some control over.

[Brandon]

Thanks guys ! Just what I needed x

[Hannah;)]

I think the point is all through out the book Gus is trying not to let cancer take over his life. Though he knows knows Hazel suffers from terminal cancer he doesn't want that her cancer to rule her life. By putting the killing thing between his teeth and not letting it kill him he's not giving cancer the power to rule him.

[Dekotah]

I think its about Gus trying to take control over how he dies. By putting the cigarette between his teeth, hes in control because he isn't smoking.

[E.j.]

You could interpret that quote a lot of ways, but after getting to know Augustus, I think it's his way of taunting death. He lets death get so close to being able to take him, but cuts it off short. He feels like his life has been lived with the taunting threat of death looming over it, so this is his payback. He's sort of saying that this is the one place where he gets to be the one to control death instead of the fear of death controlling him. His personality just made me interpret it that way.

[Scott]

It's already been stated, but I found the act to be about control. He did nothing to cause his cancer, yet there it was, killing him from the inside. By taking a cigarette, a known carcinogen, and refusing to allow it to do its ugly work, I think that's him taking some semblance of control. The act itself is poignant. Cancer makes so many of us feel helpless and hopeless, he is, in his own way, fighting back one of the few ways he can.

[Rida]

Brandon wrote: "Hey guys.

I kind of need help understanding the quote about putting the killing thing right between your teeth but not giving it the power to do its killing. I mean, it's pretty simple and straigh..."

I think it was his way to feel his control over his life. He was near to death once. It was just his fantasy that my death is in my hands and not in the hands of cancer

[Adriana]

In my opinion I think that the purpose of this quote is Augustus' way of cheating death, of being able to take control over something in his life. He got cancer, almost died and lost his leg. The metaphor was a symbol to him of cheating death and having some sense of control and balance in his life. That's also why I find the scene where Gus is at the gas station, and the tube in his stomach stuffs up and he's calling Hazel crying because all he wanted was to buy a new packet of cigarette's, and I think that's when it truly dawned on him that he didn't have control anymore. It ties quite a lot with his two persona's of Augustus and Gus. Augustus being the smart, articulate guy who always plans what he says so he can say the right words, using those words in the wrong context even, always wearing that crooked smile, with that in-human speed of his. Gus is smart and funny, he's charming and endearing, and he's the guy Hazel fell in love with, the one who has a smile to big for his face. Augustus is the guy who tries to win you over, whereas Gus, the real Augustus is the one who wins you over without even trying. It's that change in him you see throughout the book that I think is what ties into the theme. When he goes from Augustus to Gus, from having control over his life to not being able to get a grip, from strength to weakness.

[Italia8989]

How does it relate to the story? The cigarette is a metaphor for Gus's cancer. He is putting the cigarette between his teeth, and that symbolizes the cancer inside his body. Even though the cancer is killing him physically, he is not letting it take away from his spiritual living, which is important. Gus does not let his cancer effect his day-to-day life, which is how the symbolic metaphor relates to the big picture message of the book.

[Tiffany]

I think its a metaphor representing the one thing he didn't have when it came to his illness; control. He had no control over his cancer, the thing that is going to kill him. So I think the cigarette makes him retain a bit of control (emotionally) because like his cancer it can kill him however it is his decision to make whether or not he lights it up and enable it to kill him. I think it makes him feel good to hold an object that could kill him but go, " nope, not without my permission you won't."