Grief and Loneliness

Each of the narrators in this novel has an experience with grief and loneliness. How they choose to deal with their feelings, however, varies greatly though their ways of dealing are generally positive. In contrast, Tyler deals very badly with his grief. Instead of realizing everyone has sadness, Tyler feels betrayed and alone. He takes his anger out on the students whom he believes caused his grief.

Although he does not serve as a narrator, Tyler is the character who most poorly handles the bad things that have happened to him. He has had a good deal of grief in his young life. Just having his mother killed in a car wreck is enough to make Tyler understandably sad as well as being angry with life. Instead of trying to connect with others or get help, Tyler lashes out at others and finally distances...