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 tells the reader that he didn’t have a plan for what he does next. He says that a person can’t always control what they do when they feel too much, and thinks that the difference between boys and men is that men can control what they feel. He says that in this moment, he’s a crazy boy and not at all a man. Ari drives to the drugstore where Dante works and finds Daniel. He introduces himself and tells Daniel to take a break and meet him outside. Ari threatens to beat Daniel if he doesn’t comply. Daniel comes out a minute later and Ari ascertains that he hasn’t been to visit Dante in the hospital.
Ari’s assessment of the differences between boys and men shows that, in his understanding, someone his age can easily move back and forth between being an adult and being a child, depending on their emotions. This also reinforces that part of becoming adult means developing the emotional intelligence to control anger like this, and not seek revenge from someone like Daniel.
Themes
Ari wants to beat Daniel, but instead asks who jumped them. Daniel is concerned that Ari is going to tell people, but Ari grabs Daniel by the collar and demands names. Daniel says it was four guys, but he only knew two: Julian Enriquez and Joe Moncada. Ari confirms that Daniel left Dante there, but Daniel says that Dante wouldn’t run and asks what good it would’ve done to stay. Ari points out that Daniel didn’t go back and then shoves him against a wall.
It’s worth noting that while Ari is justified in being angry with Daniel, Daniel also did what he felt he needed to do to protect himself. This speaks to the difficult place that gay teens and adults can find themselves in, where doing the stereotypically cowardly thing is actually the only way to stay safe and escape violence.
Themes
