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 watches Dad flip through the art book. He knows now that Dad studied art before Vietnam. One evening, Dad points out a mural to Ari. Ari dutifully looks at the painting, but he’s more interested in looking at Dad’s finger. He knows that the finger has pulled a trigger and touched Mom. Ari wants to ask questions, but he can’t so he just nods. He’s never thought of Dad as someone who’s interested in art, just as an ex-Marine mailman who had one more son after Vietnam. Ari doesn’t think that his birth was Dad’s idea. He wants to ask questions, but he decides to collect clues to figure Dad out someday.
Now, Ari understands that there’s more to Dad than meets the eye and that, if he’s patient, he might be able to figure out who Dad is. His choice to collect clues rather than try to talk to Dad, however, points to Ari’s discomfort with open and direct communication. Ari still feels more comfortable watching and learning, which means that there’s only so much he can understand in this more passive role.
Themes
