Question

christianity in film - the fault in our stars (2014)

1. why are the names of the films protagonists-hazel grace lancaster, augustus waters-significant? research the meaning of these names and suggest what significance they mighthave in the context of christianity.

hazel grace lancaster
grace:
augustus waters
augustus:
water:
significance in the context of christianity:

1. from which famous literary work of william shakespeare does the film borrow its title?research the meaning of the title in the context of this work. is this an appropriate title for thefilm? defend your reasoning.

Explanation:

1. For Hazel Grace Lancaster:

• Grace: In Christianity, "grace" refers to God’s unmerited favor and love, often associated with divine kindness and salvation. Hazel’s middle name reflects her quiet resilience and the compassionate connections she forms, mirroring the concept of grace as a source of strength amid suffering.
• Hazel: A type of tree/plant, but its pairing with "Grace" emphasizes the interplay between earthly fragility (her illness) and spiritual grace.

For Augustus Waters:

• Augustus: Derived from "Augustus Caesar," but in Christian contexts, it evokes "august" (revered, sacred), linking to themes of dignity in mortality.
• Water: A central Christian symbol of baptism, purification, and new life. Augustus’s last name ties to renewal and the transformative love he shares with Hazel.

Combined significance: The names frame their love and struggle as rooted in Christian ideals of grace, purification, and finding meaning in suffering.

1. The film’s title is borrowed from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (Act 1, Scene 2: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves, that we are underlings"). In Shakespeare’s work, the line rejects fatalism, arguing humans control their fate. For the film, the title is appropriate: while Hazel and Augustus face terminal illness (a "fault in the stars"—fate), they choose to embrace love and meaning, redefining their lives beyond their diagnoses, aligning with the line’s tension between fate and human agency.

Answer:

1. Hazel Grace Lancaster:

• Grace: Christian unmerited divine favor, reflecting her resilience amid illness.
• Augustus Waters:
• Augustus: Evokes sacred dignity in mortality.
• Water: Christian symbol of purification/new life, tying to transformative love.
• Combined significance: Frames their journey around Christian themes of grace, renewal, and meaning in suffering.

1. The title is from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. In the play, it rejects fatalism; for the film, it is appropriate: it captures the tension between the protagonists’ fated illness ("fault in the stars") and their choice to embrace love/meaning, mirroring the play’s exploration of agency vs. fate.