Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Salt to the Sea, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Agency, Willpower, and Fate
Storytelling and Fantasy
Memory and Survival
Family and Community vs. Selfishness
Summary
Analysis
Florian hides the dead German soldier beneath the snow, and then continues marching. He realizes Emilia thought she was defending him, not realizing that he is not concerned about being stopped by Germans.
Emilia defended Florian because she sees him as her savior. As the first person to treat her with any kindness in months, she now feels it is her responsibility to look out for him as well.
Themes
Florian can hear Emilia trying not to cry. She once again reminds him of his sister, Anni. The two emerge from the woods, and see a manor before them—the same one where Joana and her fellow refugees are camped out, although Florian does not know this yet. He wonders if German or Russian forces occupy the house, though he knows that either group would cause him trouble.
Just as Emilia is growing increasingly attached to Florian, he is growing increasingly attached to her. He can’t help but see her as similar to his little sister, and so, in his mind, he begins to think of her as family he must look out for.
Themes
