71 pages 2 hours read

John Green

Paper Towns

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2008

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Part 1, Chapters 4-6

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: "The Strings"

Chapter 4 Summary

As Quentin and Margo drive through the night, Quentin takes note of the streetlights and quotes T.S. Eliot. Margo loves the quote, but is disappointed to find that Quentin did not make it up himself. As they continue talking, Margo finally reveals that Jase has been cheating on her with Becca. Quentin is confused, as he saw her that very morning laughing with Jase in the hallway at school. Quentin then realizes that he had misread the situation. Margo had actually just found out about Becca and Jase and was shouting at them, not laughing. 

Quentin then wonders how Jase could have sex with Becca when he was dating Margo. Margo thinks it’s because Becca is attractive. Immediately, and without thinking, Quentin says that Margo is far prettier than Becca, though Margo disagrees with him. In fact, Margo says that she is unattractive up close, and that the closer people get to her, the less they like her. Quentin interjects, but Margo immediately changes the subject. Quentin begins thinking about how unfair it is that someone like Jase could get to have sex with both Becca and Margo while he cannot have sex with either of them. He tries to engage Margo in conversation again, but she barely responds.