Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Identity, Ethnicity, and Masculinity
Silence and Trauma vs. Communication
Family and Coming of Age
Intellectualism and Emotion vs. Physical Strength
Summary
Analysis
Before they leave Tucson, Mom puts two big boxes of letters in the trunk of the car. She says that they’re the letters she wrote to Aunt Ophelia, and that she’s going to give them to Ari. Ari wonders if his smile is as big as Mom’s, but thinks it’s not as beautiful as hers.
Passing on the letters means that Mom will give Ari another way to understand who she has been for the last several years. With this, Ari will be able to interact with her even more like equals.
Themes
