Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Paper Towns, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Perception vs. Reality
Authenticity and Artificiality
Human Connection
Leaving Home and Growing Up
Friendship
Summary
Analysis
Lacey makes a detailed shopping list in preparation for their first gas station stop, which according to Radar’s itinerary is still two hours away. Ben is now desperate to pee, and since they cannot stop, Radar empties two of the beers from the cooler and gives them to Ben.
Ben establishes a lighthearted and unpretentious tone for the road trip by embracing the embarrassing task of peeing in front of his friends without shame or hesitation.
Themes
