Suffering In Alaska Young

The name “Alaska” is of Native American origin, meaning “Great Land.” Alaska Young is without a doubt the most complex character in the book. The name Alaska fits her because there is so much about her and to figure out, like a great land. "Little kids can dial 911. They do it all the time. Give me the wine," she said, deadpan and emotionless.” (Green 150). This shows that she is a very complicated person. Alaska is submersed in Guilt, and blame because of her mother’s death. Because of this, Alaska becomes obsessed with the polarity of death and life. She makes constant jokes about dying and fuels her self-destruction with things such as drinking and smoking. She is what you call a hot mess. “She said, "It's not life or death, the labyrinth."
How do you get out of the labyrinth of suffering?" "What's wrong?" I asked. And I felt the absence of her hand on me. "Nothing's wrong. But there's always suffering, Pudge…Suffering is universal. It's the one thing Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims are all worried about." (Green 103). This portrays the very complex person that is Alaska Young. The ways she responds to the pain and suffering is very unique and she makes is seem like she's accepted it, which she probably has. She doesn’t lie when saying pain is universal, but it is uniquely individualistic of how she represents it and talks about it. "But this is the seventh time I've been caught smoking. I just don't want—whatever. I don't want to upset my dad." (Green 71). This makes it seem like Alaska is worried about something, and gives us more information about her relationship with her father. This gives the readers an insight on the first part of the mystery of why she tries to avoid home and her dad as much as possible. Alaska is a very diverse person, and does fit the meaning of her name. She is a very complicated person in the perspective of Miles, and makes her even more complicated as those perceptions