Tophet

During the course of the book, Tyler continues to play a Video game called Tophet. Whenever there is a problem in his life, he happens to get stuck. Towards the ending of the book, when he finally solves all his problems, he completes the game. 

"And then a new screen popped up. It gave me a choice. I could become the new Lord of Darkness myself, or I could take a gamble and be reincarnated. I chose wisely." Tyler (Page 250)

This is all very symbolic to the choices that Tyler makes in his life. He could either keep living his miserable life, or he could try doing something new and make the best of his life.


SYMBOLISM 

Facing It All

Man In The Mirror- Michael Jackson

Throughout the whole book, Tyler kept thinking that either all his problems would either go away, or that running away either from home, or ending his life, would help. At the end of the book however, Tyler realized that the only way to fix all the problems that were occurring in his life was to deal with them face to face.

First Tyler went to his principal, Mr. Hughes office. Once got there, he spoke with His principal about how he didn't like being isolated in school and separated from all the rest of his classmates. Tyler informed him that he wanted to be return to his regular schedule.

His next stop to was to go and fix the deal with Chip. He approached him in the cafeteria while he was sitting with the rest if his friends. He tried challenging him, in front of all the teachers hoping he would through the first punch, but when he didn't, Tyler left, with Chip scared of facing Tyler again. Afterwards while Tyler was leaving, Bethany came running behind him calling to him. He stopped for a moment, then kept walking, knowing that chasing after her was worthless and a mistake.

After this, Tyler went to check out is his probation officer. He asked him about the issue with Bethany and the nude pictures. His officer told him that if he was proven guilty, then he would be doing more community service. A couple of days later, the police came to Tyler's house, apologizing and saying that they found the actual person who took the photos.

The last place on Tyler's list, was back home. He arrived at home, and what he did was kind of scary, but moving. Tyler confronted his father and told him about the jerk that he has been to everyone lately. He told him to fix up his act and threw a chair across the room. Tyler yelled a lot at his father and then left the house to sleep at Yoda's. When he came back home the next day, his father hugged him real tight and apologized for the way that he had been, and promised to be better.

THEME

You Should Die

"You have screwed up everything. You have a 0.00 GPA in Life. You are a useless fuck. A wasted of carbon molecules- you re the spawn of a defective sperm. You do not deserve to live. You should die. " -Tyler (Page 189. 190)

At one point in the book, Tyler felt like he was worthless and the world didnt want him anymore. After getting jumped by Chip and his crew in the middle of the street at night, Tyler came home and after seeing his bruises all over his body he felt terrible. He looked at him self in the mirror and felt like life had no more purpose. If he kept living, he would get a diploma, a job, a wife, and then have kids. Kids who would just someday end up looking in the mirror the way that Tyler was now. He began to the think that if this was the way that life was, then it was twisted.

Tyler was now looking for ways to commit suicide. He wanted a quick, painless, and neat death. He thought about shooting himself, it would follow to first two, the the blood would be very messy. Next he thought about drinking himself to death, but it would basically take a long time, and risking him puking it all up was not an option at all. At last he tries going to the cliff of the high school to jump off. In the end though, he doesnt want to hurt anyone, so he decides that running away would be a better option. "You can't kill yourself. You have to run away."

Tyler went home and started grabbing things from everyone and went into his father's room, when no one was home, to get some cash. Tyler discussed that he wasn't going to look in the bottom drawer, but he kept tempting himself so in the end he opened up the drawer and unwrapped a gun, that was kept hidden in a sweater. He took the gun and placed it in his mouth. He paused, and then got up suddenly and walked out the door of the house.

Big Bully

Mean - Taylor Swift

Chip Millbury. All the kids of Washington High knew of him. He was just another of those big stuck up rich kids who victimized people younger than him for fun. Especially Tyler Miller.Ever since Middle School Tyler had been bullied big time by Chip and his friends. Now that Bethany started liking and hanging out with Tyler, it'd gotten even worse. At the office party, Chip challenged Tyler into an arm wrestle. Chip was surprised at the strength Tyler had acquired in the past year. Tyler was on the verge of winning, when he cast a quick glance at his father and then accidentally let his grip loosen a little, allowing Chip to win.

Tyler ended up having another encounter with Chip in the boys locker room of the high school, which is one of the two places that are most talked about in the book.There is no exact setting of the story, however, only Tyler's high school and his house.

When Tyler first went into the locker room, two of Chip's friends were strangling and punching Yoda. Tyler grabbed Chips friend, Parker, and shoved him against a locker and punched him real hard. Suddenly Chip showed up, and told Tyler to back off. Tyler knew that Chip was currently defenseless, so he tried putting up a fight with Chip. Chip tried casually saying no and took injured Parker and left.

SETTING - CHARACTERS

Not My Pictures

After Tyler left Bethany at the bed at the party, he felt like he should at least take her home. So he carried her and was thinking about walking her to her house, but then he saw Chip in his car, who was also drunk. He laid Bethany in the backseat next to Parker and moved Chip to the passenger seat. He began driving towards Bethany's house. When he turned around, Tyler saw Parker running his hands though Bethany's hair, while she locked lips with him. Tyler told Bethany to stop, but she wouldn't so he turned off the ignition of the car right in front of their house and threw the keys onto the roof and walked home.

Only a couple days after the party, Hannah came into Tyler's room and started typing on his computer. She entered a website, and when it opened, Tyler couldn't breathe. There were pictures of Bethany lying on a bed without any clothes on. Hannah informed Tyler that the whole entire school knew of them and had seen them.

Following this, while the family was in the house, the police approached them at the door. Inviting them into the living room, the father was upset as to why to police were here. Getting to the point, the officer explained that Tyler was being accused of taking nude pictures of Bethany. Tyler confessed that he was at the party, with Bethany, but that he did not take those pictures, for a fact.

The After Party

The Washington High Homecoming Football Game had arrived. Big Game. Big Parties.

After Tyler had written the note to his parents saying he was sleeping over at Yoda's, he went to the game with Bethany. She came with him and gave him a kiss. And then another kiss, and a bunch more. This was more than Tyler had ever imagined with Bethany, because a year ago, even a conversation with her would've been enough for him.

Bethany told Tyler that there was a huge after party at someone's house and she wanted him to come. She caught a ride with one of her friends and Tyler ended up walking 15 miles because he was deprived of his car and liscene. Two hours later, by the time Tyler got to the party, Bethany was already way drunk. While he was grabbing a drink, Tyler noticed two familiar figures walking past him he turned around to see Yoda walking, arms wrapped around Hannah's waist. Tyler was surprised and quite angry at the fact that his sister came to to the party. He asked her why she came and she agreed upon the fact that if Tyler didn't tell on her, she wouldn't tell on him.

He went back to find Bethany and she grabbed Tyler and took him to an empty bedroom. They sat on the bed and Bethany was talking to Tyler about how she used the think he was a dork and how he had changed so much. She said she like him because he was so sweet and dangerous. She suddenly started kissing Tyler so hard and telling him how hot he was. She lifted his shirt and began stroking his chest. Tyler was loving and enjoying every second of it. Bethany began to strip out of her dress. Tyler was very tempted to stay and have sex with her, but he knew that it wasn't right to do while she was drunk. His hormones said to stay, but he agreed with his brain and got off the bed and put his shirt back on. Bethany was very confused and when he explained to her, she got mad and blew him off.

The Foul Deed

Tylers foul deed involved spray-painting graffiti all over school. His first idea, was to bomb the building, however, he realized that this would be extremely messy, and he couldn't be sure if any one was inside, because the idea was never to hurt anyone. The point of prank however, was to get noticed. He wanted to do something bold, that would make him a legend. Because as far as Tyler was concered, he was a "zit on the butt of the student body" (page 8 ). Tyler admits having misspelled “testicle" and "phenomenal". Even though that was embarrassing enough, Tyler forgot his wallet at the scene of the crime, and got caught! As a punishment, he had to do community service, got his car and phone taken away, and had to meet with a probation officer for 6 months.

Graffiti Image