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
As Callum is sworn in to testify, he agrees to tell the truth—but he wonders which version of the truth this all-Cross court will like. The prosecution lawyer, Shaun Pingule, starts by asking Callum his name—and then asks him in three different ways if Callum is part of the Liberation Militia. Already Callum can tell the jury doesn’t trust him. Mr. Pingule asks if Dad and Jude are part of the LM (Callum answers no), and he asks for Callum’s thoughts on the LM. Panicking, Callum says noughts and Crosses should be equal and he supports people who try to make things more equal. Kelani asks this question to be withdrawn and the judge agrees—but again, Callum realizes his credibility is damaged.
Callum makes it clear to readers that he doesn’t feel safe or comfortable telling what he believes is the truth in this court—a sure sign that the proceedings aren’t going to be fair or just, since Callum can’t trust in the process. And Mr. Pingule’s questions seem designed to discredit Callum. For instance, Callum realizes that even if him saying that he supports equality between noughts and Crosses is withdrawn from the official court record, the jury still heard it. They’ll still think about it, and they’ll still consider Callum dangerous and unreliable.
Themes
As Mr. Pingule asks Callum if anyone in his family knew about the Dundale mall bombing, Callum can tell this is a trap. Mr. Pingule then brings in a massive TV—and shows surveillance footage from the mall. The video shows Callum running out of a store, entering the café, and then leaving it again with Sephy in tow. Callum identifies Sephy, says she’s a friend, and says he was late to meet up with her and wanted to show her something. He can’t remember what. Mr. Pingule sits down, and Callum feels like he’s condemned Dad. But then, Kelani gets up to question Callum. She asks him to describe his relationship with Mrs. Hadley—and walks him through saying that if Mrs. Hadley had been in the café with Sephy, he would’ve waited to approach.
Again, it’s clear that Callum doesn’t trust that this trial is going to get Dad justice when he suspects that Mr. Pingule is trying to trip him up. It seems like Callum is just lucky that Kelani is able to swoop in and reframe what could otherwise be construed as damning proof that Callum knew about the bombing beforehand. Keep in mind too that Kelani is one of the best lawyers in this fictional world—so it seems like Callum and his family are perhaps in a better position than other noughts who don’t have access to such accomplished lawyers.
Themes
