Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Son of a Trickster, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Dysfunctional Families, Responsibility, and Maturity
Love vs. Violence
Escapism and Confronting Problems
The Environment and Human Destruction
Summary
Analysis
The next day, Jared takes the bus to Terrace to visit his dad. As he travels, Ebony texts him that they need to talk, but Jared’s sick of dealing with her silly gossip about who’s popular or who has the latest high-end purse. When Jared arrives at his dad’s apartment, his dad asks about his eye, but Jared assures him that it was just a good time gone wrong.
Jared’s easy dismissal of Ebony’s gossip—particularly as he is on his way to help pay his dad’s rent—again highlights how Jared’s dysfunctional family has caused him to grow up much faster than his peers, who have much more childish concerns (like popularity at school).
Themes
Jared’s dad thanks him for coming—the landlord is annoyed about the rent. Hearing this, Jared is confused, because he paid the landlord. Jared also suggests that they phone the insurance company to make sure that his dad is getting his disability check. Jared’s dad demurs and starts to put on his shoes, but he struggles, so Jared helps him. His dad says that they should just get the rent paid, but Jared notices that he seems cagey. Jared realizes that his dad did get a check from the insurance company—he’s just been taking money from Jared anyway.
The way Jared helps his dad put on his shoes is a small but important gesture, as it reinforces the role reversal between Jared and his father. One might normally expect a parent to help a small child put on their shoes—but here, Jared steps into that parental role. This is what makes his dad’s betrayal all the more painful, because Jared is already supporting his father in a way he shouldn’t have to—and yet his father is taking advantage of him because Jared is so caring and responsible.
Themes
When Jared figures out that his dad has been lying, his dad assures him that he’ll pay him back. Jared doesn’t know what to do—his dad was a decent guy until the alcohol and drugs, and Jared knows that if they lose the apartment, Destiny and Ben won’t have a place to live. Jared takes out his wallet and gives his dad the money. He thanks him, but Jared tells his father that he’s not coming back.
Jared acknowledges how difficult his father’s addiction has been on both his father and on Jared himself. While people might use drugs and alcohol, to escape from or cope with problems, the book implies (through Jared’s experiences) that using these substances causes more harm than good. In this case, Jared’s dad’s drug use is so harmful that it forces Jared to cut his dad out of his life.
Themes
After leaving his dad’s apartment, Jared gets a pepperoni pizza and scrolls through his messages—Ebony has texted him angrily, and Nana Sophia sent pictures of herself in Venice. After Jared eats, he gets back on the bus, and his mom texts, asking if he’s home for dinner. When he says yes, she replies, “Luv ur guts.” Jared figures she’s drunk and lonely, but he rereads it. When he writes, “Back atcha,” she replies, “Sarcastic lil shit ur lucky I luv u nuff not to murder u in ur sleep.”
The fact that Jared rereads his mom’s text telling him that she loves him only underscores how infrequently his mom gives him straightforward affection like this, and how valuable it is to him. However, this text is followed up with a vaguely violent one—and in this way, the threat of violence is always lurking beneath the surface of their relationship. Jared seems to be longing for a relationship that’s warm and affectionate (like his bond with Nana Sophia), but his mom continues to mix love and violence in a confusing way.
Themes
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