Quentin Jacobsen is the protagonist and the narrator of the fascinating novel, Paper Towns, by John Green. He is the type of guy who hangs out with band geeks, stays in his comfort zone, and falls for Margo Roth Spiegelman, a popular girl he can’t have. Margo has been his friend, neighbor, and crush ever since they were just little kids on bicycles. Quentin is quite the opposite of Margo, he is anxious and cautious about everything. He stays within his boundaries, and sticks with the same old routine. As the novel progresses, his personality and insights begin to change. He goes from being the goodie - goodie who flees from any trouble, to being the brave kid who skipped graduation to take a 23 hour trip to find the one and only mystery girl. By taking on this daring task with the help of his friends, he symbolizes determination and exploration in the novel. “In becoming comfortable, I found it easier to explore”…show more content… He’s never really had a relationship, unless you count his friendship with Quentin and Radar. Ben does score a gorgeous prom date, Lacey Preemption, which makes him incredibly happy, and boost his confidence. Ben is also a loyal friend, who goes the extra mile for Quentin when he really doesn’t even care for Margo. Ben’s amusing personality changes some throughout the novel especially when he meets Lacey, she bring out his sincere and spunky side.“I like your guts, bro, he said” (98). He jumps at any opportunity to be brave, and is pretty courageous most of the time. He can also be serious, when he time is right. While his friends and him are on their spontaneous trip to find Margo, they almost get into a wreck with some wandering cows, but Ben grabs the steering wheel and turns them safely away. They all say he is a hero, but he humbly denies it. He now dates one of the most popular girls in school, is considered “cool” , and is a hero in the eyes of his
