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
Ari’s last class is English with Mr. Blocker, who’s a new, enthusiastic teacher. Mr. Blocker asks students to share one interesting thing that happened to them over the summer. Ari hates this, especially since Gina, Susie, and Charlie are all in his class. He checks out after a few classmates share, but when Mr. Blocker calls on him, says that he broke his legs and got to try morphine. Charlie laughs the loudest, since he loves drugs. Mr. Blocker asks if Ari is going to be okay and if it still hurts. Ari thinks that the answer to these questions are very complicated.
Cracking jokes, like Ari does here with his quip about morphine, is another way for Ari to protect himself and ensure that there’s privacy around him and who he is. Mr. Blocker’s interest, however, suggests that adults have the power to teach Ari that this isn’t a great way to live. Through engagement with language and books, Ari can learn to communicate and be more open.
Themes
