TFIOS Title Explanation
The title "The Fault in Our Stars" is a paraphrase of a quote from the Shakespearean play Julius Caesar. There, Caesar states "The fault, dear Brutus is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings."
This quote holds a special significance to the plot in the story and the theme, what the author is trying to imply by the title.
The quote which the title is based off of was spoken by Cassius, a member of the group that assassinated Julius Caesar. At the time he is trying to convince Brutus to join the conspiracy; however, a hesitant Brutus forces Cassius to respond by saying "The fault, dear Brutus is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings." In its original context, the quote is stating that fate is not responsible for for man's shortcomings; rather, it is man's fault for its own shortcomings. Cassius is stating that it is possible to control fate, and by assassinating an oppressive ruler, the conspiracy could rise out of becoming underlings and become powerful rulers.
In the play Julius Caesar, Cassius believes fate is seen as something that can be changed from living under Caesar's rule to ruling the empire himself. However, John Green would view fate as what ultimately happened, the assassination, and would argue that it was Cassius's fate to assassinate Caesar and Cassius did not change his fate by killing Caesar
Gus's cigarette shows fate ultimately wins. Even by trying to deprive cancer of its power, Gus eventually succumbs to cancer
