Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Past the Shallows, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Brotherhood, Loyalty, and Hardship
Addiction and Abuse
Tragedy and Blame
Father Figures and Responsibility
The Duality of Nature
Summary
Analysis
As he and Harry sleep on George Fuller’s floor, Miles dreams about the wooden toolbox Granddad carved for him when he was a little boy. In the dream, Granddad tells him that he will be old enough to have his own tools soon, when he turns five. Still dreaming, he cradles the toolbox on the drive home as Mum sings along with the radio. Suddenly, Mum pulls over and leaves Miles in the car as she walks into the dark forest. He chases after Mum and finds her leaning against a tree, crying. She tells him: “I left here once. But I came back,” and Miles takes her hand and leads her back to the car.
Miles’s dream starts out as a comforting memory of Granddad, but it quickly turns to a distressing scene where Mum behaves bizarrely. It is unclear whether this part of the dream is based on a memory or is merely a figment of Miles’s imagination. In any case, the image of Miles leading Mum back after she abandoned him reflects his deep desire to have her back in his life, as Dad and Jeff’s abuse has seemingly made Mum’s absence even more painful for him. Granddad’s mention of Miles growing old enough to use his own tools also reinforces the idea that strong role models are necessary as children mature and gain agency.
Themes
In the morning, Miles wakes up and cannot find George or Jake anywhere around the property. Harry helps himself to bread and butter for breakfast and tells Miles that his eye looks bad. Miles wonders how George’s milk was left on the rural property with no icebox outside and wishes that Dad would get groceries delivered so that he and Harry could know when food is coming.
Harry’s eager devouring of the bread causes Miles to realize just how deprived their everyday lives are. His simple desire for a reliable food supply indicates Dad’s irresponsibility as a father, as he fails to meet even the basic needs of his sons.
Themes
After Harry eats his bread, Miles straightens up the house and tells him that they should be going, although Harry replies that George would not mind if they stayed. On Miles’s way out the door, Harry asks if Joe is gone and Miles cannot bring himself to answer his little brother.
Miles’s is reluctant to confirm Harry’s suspicion because he knows just how significantly Joe’s absence will affect Harry. This reality is a testament to the close bond that the three brothers share.
Themes
