Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Noughts and Crosses, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Racism, Division, and Tragedy
Awareness and Privilege
Love, Lust, Power, and Violence
Friendship
Youth, Innocence, and Growing Up
Family
Summary
Analysis
Sephy is shocked when she receives a subpoena to appear in court on Monday. Minnie says this is what happens when you hang out with noughts. To Sephy’s surprise, Mother tells Minnie to be quiet so she at least looks intelligent. Mother’s expression is still serious, though, and she says this is why she warned Sephy to stay away from Callum. This is going to destroy Mr. Hadley’s reputation. When Sephy insists it’s not her fault, Mother snaps that Sephy will get fleas if she lies down with dogs and stalks away.
Both Minnie and Mother espouse the idea that noughts are naturally criminals, and that anyone who associates with them is going to be drawn in. And it’s extremely racist when Mother invokes the saying about getting fleas if one lies with dogs—that likens noughts to dirty, parasite-infested animals. To Sephy, this is absurd. She sees Callum as an individual person, not as a collection of negative stereotypes.
Themes
