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Chapter 16
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Stoner, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Disappointment and Beauty
Passivity and Regret
Loneliness, Isolation, and Human Connection
Love and Marriage
The Value of Literary Study
Summary
Analysis
Stoner receives the devastating news that his cancer has metastasized throughout his body. As his strength wanes at home, Grace pays him a visit, and they reminisce about their shared memories of her childhood. Aware of his impending death, Stoner finds solace in conversations with Edith, reminiscing about their life together. Despite their many problems in the past, Stoner feels a close kinship with Edith. He is sad that he had to become terminally ill in order to get closer to her, but he is grateful for the revelation.
All his life, Stoner has been afraid to find intimacy with others and have important conversations with them. However, with death so close, he finally finds the strength to develop the relationships he always wanted with Grace and Edith. While these relationships are not perfect, they are a significant step above what Stoner experienced throughout his life.
Themes
Finch regularly visits Stoner in his final days. Finch always cracks jokes and tells Stoner that he will pull through, even though they both know he won’t. When he is alone, Stoner spends time reflecting on his life and how others perceive him. He acknowledges his many unfulfilled desires, which include being a better friend, teacher, academic, and husband.
Finch is a nice escape from the philosophizing and reminiscing that Stoner does when he is alone. Looking back on his life, Stoner realizes he could have done better. The number of disappointments frustrate him, especially because he knows slight changes could have made all the difference.
Themes
In his final moments, Stoner oscillates between feelings of anger, disappointment, contentment, and satisfaction. He grapples with the notion of his life being a failure, yet ultimately finds peace in the realization that its significance transcends mere success or failure. At the end of the day, he lived his life as he saw fit and finds all of its highs and lows worthwhile. With his final breaths, Stoner takes hold of a book on his bedside table. It is a book that he has not touched in a long time. Stoner opens the book and feels its pages brush across his fingers. Then, his hand releases the book as he breathes his final breath.
Despite his frustrations, Stoner ultimately finds peace in knowing that his life was beautiful, flaws and all. Despite the disappointments, Stoner managed to create for himself a life worth living and, in the end, he feels he must be satisfied. Additionally, it is telling that Stoner dies with a book in his hands. Throughout his life, Stoner has always turned to books for comfort and guidance. It is only fitting that a book be with him in his final moments.
Themes
Literary Devices
