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
While Dante naps one day, Ari sits with Mrs. Quintana and Sam. Mrs. Quintana says that there’s nothing wrong with seeing a therapist and Ari watches them exchange a look when he says that he’s fine. He knows that Sam talked to Dad, and that Sam knows what Ari did. Mrs. Quintana asks if Ari knows who beat Dante, and Ari says that he knows two and could find out who the other two are. This makes Mrs. Quintana laugh and she suggests that it’s all about loyalty. Ari say that he knows it’s wrong and confirms that nobody is going to punish the boys. Sam says he only cares about Ari and Dante.
Understanding that Julian and his cronies will never have to answer for what they did shows that Ari is beginning to understand more clearly the ways in which the world is stacked against gay boys like Dante, and specifically how the justice system, at least at this point, can’t be relied upon to ensure their safety.
Themes
