Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Big Fish, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Ambition, Courage, and Personal Fulfilment
Truth, Myth, and Immortality
Love, Flaws, and Acceptance
The Redemptive Power of Laughter
Summary
Analysis
There’s a shady oak tree near the Blue River where Edward usually stops and rests. One day, as he’s napping in the shady moss, he spots a beautiful river girl bathing in the water, cupping the cool water over her smooth, round breasts. Edward tries to stay calm, so as not to alert her to his presence. Suddenly, he sees a snake gliding towards her. Knowing it could kill her, Edward dives into the water and she screams as he grabs the snake, wrapping it up in his shirt. He doesn’t like killing animals. He’s in the water now, staring at the young woman, and neither of them knows what to say. Finally, she says, “you saved my life.”
Edward exposes his bravery by jumping into the water without a second thought for his safety and indicates once again that he is hungry to dive in and experience life, despite its risks. Throughout the novel, water always symbolizes abundant life—a life brimming with adventure and opportunity. It seems that, combined, the river girl and the water represent Edward’s hope for adventure as he approaches adulthood.
Themes
It’s true, of course. They both know Edward risked his life to save her. The river girl says he’s brave and asks his name, declaring this spot Edward’s Grove, saying it’s his now—his place to come and rest whenever he’s not feeling well. Edward feels as if he’s in another world. He turns around so she can get dressed, and when he turns back, she’s vanished. He wants to call out after her but doesn’t know her name. In his shirt there’s no snake, but a small brown stick. It looks like a snake though, especially when he throws it in the river and watches it swim away.
The river girl emphasizes Edward’s bravery, which is a central element in these tales. Edward dwells on the precipice between reality and fantasy and shows the reader that these stories have a foot in each camp—they are magical in a way, but they also represent real experiences. More importantly, they capture elements about the human experience that Edward finds important. Here, for example, Edward’s actions emphasize the importance of bravery in the face of a perceived threat.
Themes
