Honestly, the core meaning of the book is trapped in the space between what Miles projects onto Alaska and who she actually is. He idealizes her, turning her into this manic pixie dream girl symbol of adventure and deep thought. The story's meaning emerges when that image shatters. Her death isn't just a plot point; it's the direct consequence of the unresolved tension in their relationship, of the burdens she carried that he could only glimpse. Their relationship drives the meaning because it's a case study in the dangers of romanticizing someone's pain. Miles has to learn to separate the real, flawed, suffering Alaska from the symbol he created, and in doing so, he learns about guilt, responsibility, and the limits of love. The 'after' portion of the book is entirely about deconstructing the 'during' of their relationship, searching for truth in the wreckage of his perception.