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
Mom tells Ari that Dante called, and asks if Ari is going to call him back. She points out that he’s been moping and lifting weights for five days now. Ari says this isn’t true; he’s been reading and thinking about Bernardo too. He’d like to start writing to him. Mom says that Bernardo returned her letters, but she stopped writing because it hurt too much. She tells Ari to temper his expectations, since Bernardo refused to see Dad the one time that Dad visited. She thinks that Bernardo is angry and ashamed of himself. Angrily, Ari says that Bernardo should move on and punches the wall. Mom stares with concern and asks Ari what’s wrong.
Wanting to write letters to Bernardo shows that in some aspects, Ari has internalized that language and communication are positive things—but this isn’t a constant understanding, as evidenced by his sudden anger and punching the wall. Now that Ari has a better relationship with Dad, it’s offensive that Bernardo would’ve willingly given up a relationship with him—which continues to offer hope for Ari’s understanding of the positivity of open communication rather than stifling his emotions or resorting to violence.
Themes
Mom pours herself a glass of wine and then pulls out two beers. She declares that they’re going to have a family meeting and goes to get Dad. Ari says he’s scared, which Mom says is good. Dad and Mom return and Ari says he’s not actually interested in drinking with his parents. Very seriously, Dad tells Ari about an experience in Vietnam. He and his fellow soldiers were on a reconnaissance mission and suddenly, there were grenades everywhere. They called for a chopper. Dad starts to cry as he says that a young man named Louie went down. Dad tried to go back for him, but the others wouldn’t let him. Dad sobs and Ari feels his heart breaking. He regrets seeing Dad’s pain and understands that Dad’s trauma is still raw.
While it’s not entirely clear if telling Ari about Louie is cathartic, per se, for Dad, it does allow Ari to begin to truly understand the kind of pain with which Dad lives every day. It’s fitting that Mom facilitates this conversation, since she’s the one in Ari’s family who is the most in touch with her emotions and is open to talking about them. Being willing to sit and have this conversation with his parents, however, shows that Ari is growing and changing for the better—he’s no longer running.
Themes
Dad says that he’s not sure how he felt about the war or the U.S., but he loved the men he fought with. He wasn’t always a good man or a good soldier, and he dwells on the men they left behind. They’re silent for a long time and then Dad says that he hears Louie calling for him sometimes. Ari points out that Dad would’ve died and says that they don’t have to talk about this. Dad says that it might be time to stop the dreams and then smiles at Ari.
For Dad, stopping the dreams means that he takes active steps to connect with Ari, so that he can make sure that Ari doesn’t experience the same years of pain and suffering that Dad has because of his trauma in Vietnam. With this, Dad chooses to break the cycle of silence and violence, and gives Ari the tools to do the same.
Themes
Dad tells Ari that it’s time to stop running. Ari has no idea what Dad is talking about, and Dad explains that he’s talking about Ari and Dante. He says it’s clear that Dante loves Ari, but Ari says that Dante is into Daniel, not him. Dad says that the bigger problem is that Ari is in love with Dante. Ari stares at his parents’ faces and says he doesn’t think it’s true. Dad cuts him off and says that he thinks that Ari saved Dante last year because Ari couldn’t deal with the thought of losing him. This, he says, is love. Ari insists that Dante is just his friend, but Dad points out that Ari also beat up Julian. Ari asks why Dad is talking like this and cries as Dad says that he loves Ari and is tired of seeing him so lonely.
As far as Dad can tell, Ari’s loneliness stems from the fact that he’s denying a major part of himself in an attempt to keep himself safe and secure. However, he is, in many ways, doing what Dad did with Vietnam, and refusing to admit that he’s struggling with being gay is actually hurting him more than it’s helping. When Dad takes the lead on this conversation, it makes it even more meaningful for Ari, as it shows him that his dad truly does know him, understand him, and will love him no matter what.
Themes
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When Ari stops crying, he says that he liked it better when Dad didn’t talk and admits that he’s ashamed of being gay. Mom says that Aunt Ophelia taught her a lot and that Ari can’t run from Dante. When Ari says that he hates himself, Mom tells him not to—she can’t bear to lose another son. Ari asks how she can love him so much. Mom says that he’s beautiful and Ari asks what to do. Softly, Dad says that Dante didn’t run when they beat him. Ari understands Dad, and feels as though Dad understands him.
Mom sees that if Ari continues to deny who he is, she is going to lose Ari since his anger is a direct result of repressing his sexuality. In this way, accepting his sexuality and all the emotions that go along with it means that Ari can learn to be more vulnerable, and value communication with words more than he relies currently on violence and overbearing masculinity.
Themes
