All the Light We Cannot See

All the Light We Cannot See

by

Anthony Doerr

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All the Light We Cannot See: 5. You Have Other Friends Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
The boys in the National Institute bully Frederick horribly. Werner alone looks out for his friend, helping him whenever he can. Late at night, Werner and Hauptmann test their transceiver with Volkheimer’s help.
Werner is performing one good deed to hide the fact that he’s refusing to do something more important: in other words, he’s helping Frederick in private when he could be standing up for him in public, or even opposing the authorities altogether.
Themes
World War II, the Nazis, and the French Resistance Theme Icon
Fate, Duty, and Free Will Theme Icon
Science and “Ways of Seeing” Theme Icon
One day Werner asks Frederick why he doesn’t just leave the National Institute and return to Berlin. Frederick replies, a little too suddenly, that it might be better if he and Werner weren’t friends anymore. Werner, in spite of himself, remembers being with his sister, years ago. He imagines how sad Jutta was when he destroyed their radio. Werner tries to reconcile with Frederick, but Frederick ignores him.
Frederick seems to see through Werner’s hypocrisy, and call him out on it. He plays a similar role to Jutta, as a mostly one-note character whose role is primarily to act as a “conscience” for Werner. It makes sense, then, why Werner immediately thinks of Jutta and her disappointment in him when Frederick reacts in a similar way.
Themes
Fate, Duty, and Free Will Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon