Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Messenger, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Selfishness vs. the Collective Good
Youth, Memory, and the Future
Humans and Nature
Identity and Difference
Summary
Analysis
Matty does as Leader tells him to do and puts the packet of messages inside his shirt. His job is to post messages on all the paths through Forest so that people have the time to turn back. The only settlement Matty will go to is his old one, which is in regular communication with Village. Leader asks Matty if Seer mentioned Leader's gift to see beyond. They discuss Kira and that Seer says that she has a gift too. Matty wonders if Leader knows about his own gift. As though he's reading Matty's mind, Leader says he knows about Matty's gift. Matty explains that he's kept it a secret because he doesn't understand it.
Finally opening up to Leader allows Matty to feel seen and heard, something that will in turn give him the confidence and the sense of community that allows him to go on successfully with his task. This also suggests that Matty's gift might be more a part of his identity than he realizes, given that Leader is the one who bestows true names and is, in this case, the one speaking to Matty about his gift.
Themes
Leader tells Matty that when the gift rises up of its own accord, it's because someone needs the gift. Matty is indignant that he had to start with a frog, but Leader says the first time he saw beyond, he saw an apple. Matty chuckles, and Leader cautions him to "wait for the true need" and not spend his gift. Leader puts his arm around him and insists that Matty will know when the time is right.
Leader's warning to not spend the gift suggests that while Matty's gift may be able to help many different people, there's something bigger and more profound that Matty must do. This again reminds the reader that the issue is bigger than any one sick person in Village.
Themes
Matty says he needs to go tell Jean he's leaving, but Leader keeps his arm around Matty's shoulder. Then Leader looks out the window, and Matty feels Leader's arm come alive with power and energy. After a few moments, Leader lifts his arm. He seems exhausted, and collapses into a chair. Then he says that Forest is "thickening," though Matty can't understand what this means. Leader says he doesn't understand it either, but it's as if Forest is clotting like blood. Matty tries to say that there's a storm coming, so maybe that’s what Leader saw, but Leader explains that he was trying to look through Forest to see Kira, and he couldn't push through. He says that Matty shouldn't go; it's not safe in Forest.
The visceral language that Leader uses to describe Forest's "thickening" again suggests that Forest is more human or connected to humans than anyone at this point is willing to give it credit for. This continues to provide evidence that Forest is a reflection of humans and, in this case, can even reflect their bodies and bodily processes like clotting blood. Leader’s gift of seeing and communicating with large forces gives greater weight to his words to Matty regarding his own gift.
Themes
Matty is momentarily disappointed, but then says he has to go—he promised to bring Kira to Seer. Leader asks if Kira will want to come, and Matty assures him that she will. Leader explains that he's going to try to look beyond Forest again. Matty sits down with Frolic and watches as Leader's body tenses like he's in pain, and his eyes look somewhere far away. He finally slumps back into a chair and explains that he reached Kira. Matty asks if two people’s gifts could somehow meet each other halfway, making it easier for both of them, but Leader doesn't know. Matty insists that he's going. He listens to Leader warn him again to not spend his gift. As Matty starts down the stairs, Leader asks if Kira is pretty. Matty points out that she has a crooked leg, but Leader says that she's lovely.
When Matty insists he must go because he promised to bring Kira back for Seer, it shows that Matty still has a strong sense of responsibility to help the people he loves. He is, in other words, fully invested in working toward a common goal and helping others. Matty knows Kira from before—as related in Gathering Blue—and in his old village, Kira’s disability meant that she would never be considered “lovely.” Matty still retains some of these old prejudices, as his conversation with Leader here shows.
Themes
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Matty isn't ready to go until late afternoon. He packs the messages in his blanket as Seer packs food in a backpack. Seer asks Matty to tell Kira about the homeplace and their flower garden, but Matty insists that since Kira has a gift, she'll already know. He also tries to assure Seer that Kira will want to come. Jean knocks on the door and offers Matty a loaf of bread to take with him. Matty mentions that he wants to say goodbye to Ramon before he leaves, but Jean says that Herbalist has quarantined Ramon and his sister, fearing they'll start an epidemic.
Herbalist's fear that what ails Ramon and his sister is an epidemic isn't entirely wrong, but it is incorrect in that what's plaguing Village is only physical illness. Ramon is sick because Village as a whole and his parents in particular are becoming selfish and afraid of difference. The fact that Ramon—a child—is sick from this again shows that when one part of society takes a turn for the worse, everyone suffers.
Themes
This concerns Matty, as epidemics have never come to Village like they once went through Matty's old settlement. Matty considers using his gift to save Ramon, but knows that he wouldn't be able to make it through Forest weakened from the effort. He also remembers Leader's advice to not use his gift. Jean calls for Matty's attention and points to the tapestry that Kira made. She says it's different, and Matty sees what she means: the threads that create the trees in it are now knotted and twisted, and it seems ominous. Matty gives Jean a look and says the tapestry seems fine. He hugs Seer and Jean kisses Matty before he leaves.
Deciding to not heal Ramon reinforces the possibility that Matty will have something bigger and more meaningful to do with his gift than save just one person. Matty's willingness to take Leader's advice to heart and leave his friend shows that though he has his faults, Matty is still fully engaged with the ideals that Village originally espoused and is willing to follow the rules in order to most effectively help others.
Themes
