Son Book 3, Chapter 8 Summary & Analysis

After Gabe has cleaned up and everyone has eaten dinner, Jonas asks Gabe if he remembers Trade Mart. Gabe is only barely interested; he’s listening to Kira tuck Matthew and Annabelle into bed. He doesn’t like babies very much, but he still feels a huge sense of loss to think that nobody has ever “mothered” him. But he also thinks he remembers someone who loved him holding him. He needs to find her.

Despite Gabe’s distaste for babies, he’s seemingly drawn to mothers and their children. This points to Gabe’s desire to have a relationship with his own mother, and that discovering and then cultivating this relationship is how Gabe believes he’ll construct his adult identity.

Active Themes

Quotes

Jonas calls Gabe back to attention as Kira joins them, and Gabe says he was aware of Trade Mart and curious about it. Jonas explains that Trade Mart seemed innocuous, but it was scary. Trademaster would appear in the village and invite people to “make trades.” So, for instance, Gabe might ask for a boat—but he’d have to trade away a part of his “basic character” to get it. So Gabe might trade his energy, and then find himself too exhausted to use the boat. This system corrupted the village as people traded “the best parts of themselves” for “foolish things.” Matty’s death brought the end of the Trade Mart and exposed Trademaster as “pure evil.”

For now, it’s not clear to Gabe why he has to care about Trademaster or Trade Mart, things that, as far as he’s concerned, are in the past. As Jonas explains how Trademaster fantastically facilitates trades, he suggests that selfishness and greed are diametrically opposed to a supportive, thriving community. A community needs people with their good, generous “basic character[s]” intact, Jonas implies.

Active Themes

Then, Jonas brings up powers, or gifts. Kira explains that Jonas can “see beyond,” and his power is waning. Kira’s power is also beginning to disappear. This is fine—they don’t need their gifts anymore—but they’re pretty sure Gabe has a gift. Gabe isn’t ready to share that he’s already discovered it, but Jonas says that Gabe has a big task to complete that will require this gift. Now, Jonas says, he’s going to use his gift one more time to locate Trademaster. Then, Gabe will destroy him. Gabe argues that Trademaster doesn’t have anything to do with him, but Jonas says they’ll continue this conversation in the morning.

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Jonas and Kira imply that as they get older, it’s basically time for the next generation (that is, Gabe) to use his power and step into the roles they once occupied. Both spent their youths serving others, and it’s now Gabe’s turn. Gabe’s response—that Trademaster has nothing to do with him—is telling. This implies that Gabe is fine with Trademaster wreaking havoc, as long as it’s happening elsewhere—a view the novel suggests is immature and selfish.

Active Themes

Son: Book 3, Chapter 8 Summary & Analysis