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
One afternoon, Dante stops at Ari’s house to introduce himself to Mom and Dad. Ari explains that Dante taught him how to swim and notes that Mom and Dad look excited that Ari made a friend. Dante offers Dad a gift of a book of Mexican paintings. Dad smiles but insists he can’t accept it. Very seriously, Dante says that his parents sent it, so Dad has to keep it. Dad smiles, something he does rarely. Ari notices that Dad treats the book like a treasure and thinks that he just doesn’t understand his dad.
Dad’s reaction to the book makes it clear that there’s more to him than Ari thinks. Notably, the way that Ari talks about Dad suggests that he’s not exactly setting himself up to learn more about him. Instead, Ari has decided that he’s not going to understand Dad, so it’s not worth trying. Ironically, this decision to give up and remain closed-off is the very thing that frustrates Ari about his dad. This suggests that Ari will have to get past this resistance toward vulnerability if he ever expects to understand Dad.
Themes
