Salt to the Sea

Salt to the Sea

by

Ruta Sepetys

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Salt to the Sea: 112. Emilia Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Florian comes to greet Emilia. She still calls him her “knight.” He takes the baby and compliments her, saying the baby has Emilia’s eyes and nose. He tells her, “Kind of incredible. She is you, she is your mother, your father, your country.” He kisses the baby and hands her back to Emilia, who is ready to accept her role as a mother.
Emilia’s fantasy of Florian as a protective knight remains intact. Florian helps explain that, as a survivor, Emilia has the opportunity to carry on the legacy of her family and her country. Her daughter is not only a physical manifestation of Emilia’s rejection of her trauma, but a symbol of a brighter future, in which the past can live on through memory.
Themes
Storytelling and Fantasy  Theme Icon
Memory and Survival  Theme Icon
Family and Community vs. Selfishness  Theme Icon
Quotes