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Chapter 15
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Motorcycles & Sweetgrass, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Cultural Maintenance vs. Loss
Grief and Trauma
Colonialism and Land Use
Stories and Religion
Humor
Summary
Analysis
John tells Maggie of his travels. She’s jealous of his worldliness, and he admits he had to stop traveling because he developed a drinking problem. They build a bonfire and Maggie, who has been drinking while John has not, asks what his travels taught him about women. She complains that even though she is a woman, she doesn’t understand women––though she really means she doesn’t understand Lillian.
John’s decision to open up to Maggie about his drinking problem is a rare moment of vulnerability from him. This kind of honesty suggests that although he considers Maggie a prize to be won, he also genuinely likes her. This kind of bonding highlights the significance of exchanging stories about one’s life and experiences as a means to interpersonal connection.
Active
Themes
When Maggie presses him, John speaks passionately about the unique beauty of women’s breasts. He looks at the bay and remarks that Lillian used to swim naked in it. He invites Maggie to swim naked with him, and she kisses him. They begin to have sex. Across the bay, Dakota watches them with binoculars.
