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
Miles and Dad drive home from a day of fishing on the boat. That day, Miles realized that Joe was right about the swell coming and that his brother will be lucky to make it across the strait before the storm hits. Few boats had gone out, but Dad made them stay on the water all day. Exhausted from the long day, Miles is lulled to sleep by the warmth and soft rumbling of Dad’s pickup truck.
The incoming storm foreshadows destruction for Bruny Island’s fisherman as well as for Joe, who is likely trying to cross the formidable Bass Strait that separates Tasmania and Australia. Dad’s decision to force Miles to work in spite of the violent swell is further evidence of his irresponsibility and carelessness toward his son’s safety.
Themes
Asleep in the passenger seat, Miles dreams that he and Harry are snugly tucked into the backseat of Mum’s car with bags of clothes packed all around them. He tries to stay awake to see the city lights as they drive through Hobart, but he falls asleep in the comforting warmth of the car. Suddenly he feels something pull tight around his neck and chest as the bags of clothes crash down around him.
This dream is based on Miles’s memories of the car accident that killed Mum, as it was previously revealed that he and Harry were in the car during the crash. The bags of clothes (as opposed to luggage) imply that Mum, Miles, and Harry may have been leaving in a hurry, or for a long period of time.
Themes
Miles is abruptly awoken from his dream as Dad blares his car horn. Harry is standing frozen in the middle of the road in front of Dad’s pickup truck, having just run out from George Fuller’s place. Dad slams on the brakes and the truck slides to a stop on the gravel road. He gets out of the car and shakes Harry as he yells at him, demanding to know what he is doing out in the middle of nowhere. Harry replies that there was a dog he wanted to play with and braces himself to be hit. Instead, Dad goes quiet, looks at Harry with a dead expression, and lets him go.
Rather than showing concern for why his young son is alone and wandering in the woods, Dad’s first instinct is to lash out at Harry. He seems to be in denial of the fact that his own violence is what drove Miles and Harry to flee in the first place. This behavior shows the transformative nature of Dad’s addiction, as his alcohol abuse has caused him to forfeit any semblance of responsibility and compassion as a father.
Themes
Miles rushes over to ask Harry if he is okay. His little brother says nothing but grabs onto his arm. On the drive home, Dad remains silent with a blank expression. He makes eggs on toast for the boys when they arrive at home and goes to watch television, saying nothing to Miles and Harry for the rest of the night.
As usual, Miles is willing to take responsibility for Harry when Dad is not. Although Dad seemed somewhat remorseful for his actions when Miles first returned home, his cold behavior indicates that he is still harboring blame toward his sons and that this blame is part of what interferes with his ability to be an effective father.
Themes
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