Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Quicksand, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Race, Segregation, and Society
Mixed-Race Identity
Racial Shame and Emotional Repression
Race, Beauty, and Exoticism
Religion, Poverty, and Oppression
Summary
Analysis
Helga wakes in her hotel room after a night of colorful romantic dreams. She swoons a little when she recalls her kiss with Dr. Anderson. She feels no different toward Anne though, whom she still finds annoying. Helga decides that nothing has changed. A few weeks pass, and Helga is outwardly calm, but inwardly teeming with emotion. She bumps into Dr. Anderson often, but never says a word about their kiss. One night, at a party, Helga decides she can’t ignore her feelings anymore and goes over to talk to him. Her confidence fails when she arrives at his side, however, and she slides into a chair, feeling weak. Dr. Anderson says he would like to meet with Helga alone. She is elated, feeling this was destined to happen.
Helga is overcome with feelings for Dr. Anderson, and can’t stop thinking about him. Nonetheless, she still pushes her feelings away and acts as if nothing happened. Eventually, after years of running from her feelings for Dr. Anderson, Helga decides she can run no longer. Of course, Dr. Anderson is now married to Anne, which means it is an awkward time for Helga to finally embrace her emotions. Stifling her emotions has led Helga to a place where her chances of getting what she wants are highly limited, though she is too emotionally naïve to see this yet.
Themes
The next day, Helga spends hours primping in front of the mirror. She’s excited, and has decided that it’s time to accept her feelings for Dr. Anderson. When he arrives, he immediately apologizes for having kissed her and explains he was tipsy. This discussion isn’t going the way Helga wants, and she suddenly feels deflated. Helga answers calmly that it was just a kiss and that there’s no need to worry, but as she rises to leave, she suddenly feels hysterical and savagely slaps Dr. Anderson, before running out of the room. Hours later, Helga lays heartbroken in her hotel room. She feels as if she’s lost Dr. Anderson forever. The realization of that thought hits her as she has a flashing vision of many dull and empty years ahead.
Helga has been pushing her feelings away for so long that she is romantically inexperienced and misreads Dr. Anderson’s intentions. Helga’s inability to keep her composure during emotional encounters wins out, and the confrontation yet again triggers an aggressive response from Helga. The ramifications of Helga’s lifelong emotional repression are starting to bubble to the surface as it becomes clear to Helga that she has missed her chance at happiness with Dr. Anderson.
Themes
