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Chapter 28
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Very Large Expanse of Sea, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Racism and Islamophobia
Friendship and Community
Prejudice, Division, and Isolation
First Love
Summary
Analysis
Shirin gets in Linda’s car. After emphasizing that she doesn’t care about Shirin’s race or religion, Linda tells Shirin that Ocean isn’t listening to her pleas to end his relationship with Shirin, so she wanted to speak with Shirin directly. Linda tells Shirin that she can’t afford for Ocean’s future to be ruined because she’s always counted on Ocean receiving a basketball scholarship to attend college. When Shirin responds that Ocean said he didn’t need a scholarship, Linda reveals that she’s spent the money that Ocean thought she put aside for him but can’t tell him this because their relationship is already so strained. As Linda drives away, Shirin realizes she’s helpless in this situation and has no choice but to relent.
During this conversation with Linda, Shirin realizes that her relationship with Ocean might have more significant of an impact than she thought. Coach Hart previously warned Shirin that her relationship with Ocean could ruin his future, but when Linda reveals that Shirin is jeopardizing Ocean’s ability to pay for college, Linda solidifies that Ocean will indeed face unexpected difficulties if he and Shirin continue to be together. This Shirin feel that she has no choice but to walk away out of care for Ocean.
Active
Themes
