Halley’s Comet
I believe John Green was inspired to write about Halley’s Comet because of a cherished childhood memory. He described a night with his father at their cabin in central Florida. They sat and watched Halley’s Comet pass by Earth, which happens once every seventy-four years. It also allowed him to explore the idea of time, and how human knowledge has developed over that time. He was insightful about how if we measure in time in the passing of Halley’s comet, it feels both very large and very small.
I felt like Green picking this topic does help find a life of significance. He shows how one can look at life from a bigger perspective, such as in units of Halley’s passing. You can measure just how many human lives away we are from major events in history. It makes life seem more and less significant. However, it seems to bring John comfort in his life, and so for him it extends his life of significance.
My thoughts on the topic are positive. While I have never seen Halley’s comet, I am familiar with it. It is one of the most interesting constants in our solar system and has impacted humanity throughout our history. Even in days long passed human extinction, Halley’s comet will still be there, simply passing us by. I also look at our time as how many times Halley has passed. We are only a passing and a half from World War two and only two from the first world war. We are less than five from the founding of the United States and only a few dozen from the Roman Empire. Measuring our lives this way adds much-needed perspective. I rate Halley’s Comet 5 out of 5 stars.