Previous
Chapter 51
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in My Friends, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Friendship
The Value of Art
Loss and Grief
Substance Abuse
Summary
Analysis
Actually, Joar’s old man didn’t die, Joar tells Louisa. He continues the story of 25 years ago. In it, weeks pass while Joar’s old man is still in the hospital. The doctors say he has extensive brain damage and will never be the same person, being paralyzed and barely verbal. Joar’s mom will stay with his old man, Joar knows, because he needs her. Still, he can see that even though his mom is a small person physically, she is a giant in other ways.
In retelling the story to Louisa, Ted made it seem as if there would be a climactic showdown between Joar and his old man. What this chapter reveals is that real life can be more complicated, as a head injury changes life not just for Joar’s old man but for his family. Ted marveled in the last chapter about how fragile life can be after seeing a bird, and Joar’s old man’s paralysis shows how true this is.
Active
Themes
The men from the harbor struggle to look at Joar as they offer condolences, because Joar still has marks from his old man’s beatings. Kimkim’s dad is the last one to speak, whispering to Joar that he’s sorry for staying silent. Joar can’t tell if he means he’s sorry for staying silent about the years of abuse or for not warning Joar’s old man about the crane. Joar doesn’t ask for clarification and instead just tells him that he should make the same apology to Kimkim before it’s too late.
Joar’s injuries represent how his old man has scarred him, not just physically but emotionally as well. This passage brings to light how occurs in part because men like Kimkim’s dad see it and do nothing. Still, this passage also demonstrates how people like Kimkim’s dad may be capable of change by owning up to their past mistakes.
Active
Themes
Afterwards, on the way back from a hospital visit, Joar goes by the chapel and sees Kimkim, Louisa, and Ted there. They talk about whether God exists, and Kimkim says that maybe God is a community of people. Joar jokes about how Kimkim lost a drawing, so he needs to get working on making more drawings because they are sure to be worth millions someday. They all laugh together, for the last time that loud and free. Meanwhile, a man around the corner with eight fingers (Kimkim’s dad) holds Kimkim’s drawing.
Active
Themes
