In the beginning of Looking for Alaska, Green introduces the everyday life of the teenagers at Culver Creek boarding school. The main characters who Green focuses on are Pudge, who has just transferred to Culver Creek, "The Colonel," Alaska, and Takumi. Green gives the reader a brief glimpse into their daily interests when the teenagers first go to the smoking hole and smoke cigarettes, and spending time together. The kids seem not only restless, but unsatisfied by the dullness of Culver Creek, so they resort to smoking and playing pranks for entertainment. On page 44, the kids go to their "hideout," or the smoking hole to catch up after an intense day of classes. After casually talking about their day, Alaska, the beautiful and spontaneous girl in the group, finishes her cigarette first and makes an unusual comment when Pudge asks her why she smokes so fast. Alaska comfortably responds "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." (Green 44). This quote ends the chapter, leaving the reader unaware of how the rest of the group responds. This could be a foreshadow to Alaska's suicidal tendencies. This also suggests that there is indeed deep internal issues within the characters, rather than just the fun and games of sneaking around and going to boarding school. Green uses Alaska and her spontaneous, vulnerable comments to somewhat shock everyone else in the group, who normally center around day-to-day situations, suggesting that there is more depth to everyday life than just smoking cigarettes and drinking. Alaska's powerful comments makes the reader wonder about her character and her issues she deals with, especially since she makes them with a casual tone. Could she be joking or is she seriously suicidal? And why? Green uses Alaska in a mysterious way, giving depth to the seemingly surfaced life at Culver Creek.
This also suggests that there is indeed deep internal issues within the characters, rather than just the fun and games of sneaking around and going to boarding school. Green uses Alaska and her spontaneous, vulnerable comments to somewhat shock everyone else in the group, who normally center around day-to-day situations, suggesting that there is more depth to everyday life than just smoking cigarettes and drinking. Alaska's powerful comments makes the reader wonder about her character and her issues she deals with, especially since she makes them with a casual tone. Could she be joking or is she seriously suicidal? And why? Green uses Alaska in a mysterious way, giving depth to the seemingly surfaced life at Culver Creek.