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Chapter 8
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Westing Game, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Solidarity vs. Individualism
Capitalism, Greed, and Inheritance
Prejudice and Bigotry
Mystery and Intrigue
Summary
Analysis
The next morning, Sydelle places an index card on the elevator’s back wall asking for the return of her notebook. No one returns Sydelle’s notebook, but the other Sunset Towers residents begin using the elevator wall as a bulletin board. Grace asks for the return of her stolen silver cross necklace. An anonymous note asks those willing to share their clues to come to the coffee shop the next morning. Turtle asks for the return of a stolen Mickey Mouse clock. Hoo posts an advertisement for his restaurant. Flora posts that she is missing a string of pearls. Ford posts an invitation to an informal party at her apartment. Grace posts a note demanding Turtle return home by seven that evening.
As the residents of Sunset Towers begin realizing that items of theirs are missing, it becomes clear that there is a thief among them. They create a bulletin board as a shared space for notes and advertisements, yet even as they construct tools of solidarity and community, they remain laser-focused on their own individual needs and problems.
Active
Themes
At Flora’s apartment, Turtle and her partner have just finished placing an order on their stocks. Turtle feels she pulled off the transaction with aplomb. She believes that in “refining gold,” or investing her money, she is already winning at the Westing game. Turtle returns home to her own apartment to get ready for the party. Grace asks if she can fix Turtle’s hair, and Turtle reluctantly lets her mother brush out her braid and redo it. As Grace compliments how nice Turtle’s hair is and how pretty she’d look in pink at Ford’s party tonight, Turtle realizes that her mother is being sweet to her in hopes of getting a look at her clues. Turtle tells her mother that she won’t show her even one. Angela walks in. Grace asks where her engagement ring is; Angela replies that she has a rash.
Grace clearly wants to manipulate Turtle in order to get Turtle’s clues and further her own position in the game. Turtle is used to being misunderstood or unappreciated by her mother, but to be actively used and controlled is a painful new development in their relationship.
Active
Themes
Sydelle Pulaski comes to the open apartment door and peeks in—she is sporting a pair of black-and-white checkered crutches and a black-and-white checkered dress. She has come, she says, to take Angela to the party. They are planning on wearing identical costumes to find out if anyone is a twin. Grace asks Sydelle if she’ll show her her notes. Sydelle refuses to respond. Turtle, uncomfortable, hurries out to meet her date to the party, Flora.
Active
Themes
Judge Ford and Theo are getting ready for the party when the newsperson Ford spoke with earlier calls back with information about several heirs. The journalist describes Angela and Deere’s engagement announcement and a lawsuit brought against Sam Westing by James Hoo, who believed Westing stole his idea for a disposable paper diaper. Mr. Hoo walks into the apartment with catered food for the party. Ford cups her hand over the phone and asks him to stay for the party—he reluctantly agrees. The judge thanks the journalist for their time and hangs up. The party is about to start.
Active
Themes
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