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
Harry follows Miles out of George’s house and up the road. He asks Miles where they are going but Miles continues on without answering, so Harry stops and waits for his brother to notice and turn back. Harry expects Miles to be angry, but instead he looks scared and tells Harry that he is taking him to Stuart’s house.
Miles’s decision to leave Harry at Stuart’s house is a selfless act of love, as he knows that leaving his little brother with Stuart will ensure his safety but will leave Miles alone to bear the brunt of Dad’s mistreatment.
Themes
When they arrive at Stuart’s house, Miles lies to Stuart’s mother and says that he hit his head on the boat when she asks about the lump above his eye. Miles tells Harry that he will bring him some clothes later and Harry offers him the few dollars leftover from the money he found at the boat races with Aunty Jean. Miles tells him to keep it and later drops off a backpack full of clothes, chocolates, and the dart gun from Harry’s goodie bag.
This passage is a clear example of Miles and Harry’s loyalty for each other, as they are both more concerned with each other’s wellbeing than they are with their own. Miles also takes on more of a paternal role in this instance, perhaps to make up for Joe’s absence. His thoughtful packing of Harry’s bag shows that he is dedicated to alleviating as much of his little brother’s suffering as possible.
Themes
