Guilt and remorse

Anger as reaction

Guilt and remorse are important themes in John Green’s novel Looking for Alaska. In his despair, the Colonel develops anger toward Alaska after the accident. He says that she has always been irresponsible and that people always had to watch out for her. He is angry with her for doing such a foolish and irresponsible thing (pp. 128).

Miles and the Colonel make up the tale that they were both asleep when Alaska drove off so they don't have to admit their guilt and be held responsible (p. 130).

As he can't stand his guilt, the Colonel runs away. He simply runs in one direction and does not return until he is completely frozen. The reason he is afraid of sleeping is because he dreams of Alaska but can't remember exactly what she looks like. He confesses that he was simply annoyed by her moodiness and her tendency to dramatize everything. That is why he let her go that night (p. 133). Miles, on the other hand, reflects that he let her go for the simple reason that she asked him to.

At Alaska's funeral, the Colonel repeats that he is sorry and tells Alaska tha...