It's based on this quote from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar,
Cassius: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.” - Julius Caesar (I, ii, 140-141)
In this quote, Cassius seems to be arguing that it's not fate that controls our lives, but rather that we're in control, and that we are thus responsible.
The title The Fault in Our Stars seems to be saying the opposite. With the two main characters, Augustus and Hazel, John Green shows us of that sometimes we're not in control of our lives.
Clearly Augustus and Hazel didn't do anything to cause the cancer they have, yet they have to live with it. The book poses the question: is it possible to find happiness in life despite the fault in our stars?
In this episode of On Books I chat The Fault in Our Stars with Kate Gavino (The author and illustrator behind lastnightsreading.tumblr.com).
Read the book notes @ www.on-books.com