Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

by

Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe makes teaching easy.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe: Part Four, Chapter Nineteen Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
On the weekends, Ari and Dad get up early for driving lessons. Dad is a good teacher, but they never talk about anything other than driving. Ari does notice that Dad seems more relaxed. Dad whistles, and Ari wonders if he just doesn’t need words to move through the world. Ari thinks that on the inside, he’s not like his dad: he’s like Dante, which scares him.
This realization scares Ari because it means that he has to be honest with himself and others, which silence has protected him from having to do up until this point. It’s important, however, that Dad and Ari are getting to know each other better, as it lays the groundwork for a more open relationship in the future.
Themes
Identity, Ethnicity, and Masculinity Theme Icon
Silence and Trauma vs. Communication Theme Icon
Quotes