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
As they continue driving, Radar, Lacey, and Quentin marvel aloud at what has just happened. They praise Ben lavishly for his heroism. Ben, embarrassed, again insists he was only thinking of himself. Seeing how uncomfortable their praise makes him, the other three exaggerate their compliments even more.
Ben, used to his role as comic relief, is clearly uncomfortable being lauded as a hero. His friends accept this discomfort and turn their gratitude into jokes, but it is clear that Ben is capable of more than his role suggests.
Themes
