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Chapter 36
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Yield, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Colonialism and Exploitation
The Power of Language and Cultural History
Family, Identity, and Belonging
Collective Trauma, Memory, and Guilt
Human Spirituality and the Natural World
Summary
Analysis
Missy, Elsie, and Mary go back inside Prosperous while Joey and August look across the burning wheat fields. August sees Eddie alongside police and firemen working to douse the blaze. The protesters are silhouettes fleeing from authorities. The chaos thrills Joey, who seems to approve of the protesters’ riotous behavior. Inside, Mary tells Missy and August how the protesters first blocked Rinepalm’s bulldozers before setting the field on fire. Mary had called the police and Aunt Nicki, since she deals with the mines. Something clicks in August’s mind. She asks if anyone has seen Albert’s dictionary, but Elsie says there are more pressing matters. An officer arrives and tells them to clear out in case the fire reaches the house.
Based on Eddie’s proximity to the police, he doesn’t support the protestors’ efforts to save his and Elsie’s land. Joey, on the other hand, appreciates the group’s solidarity and disruptive tactics. Admittedly, burning the field seems counter-productive if the protestors’ goal is to protect the land, though it also recalls Albert’s descriptions of controlled burns. Aunt Nicki’s involvement with the mines at last makes August wonder if she knows more about Albert’s attempts to save Prosperous than she’s letting on.
Active
Themes
August finds Eddie, who apologizes for his behavior. Ignoring him, August asks which aunt put her to bed after the funeral. Eddie confirms it was Nicki. He told the council about the artifact records the day before Albert died. Back at the house, August retrieves her and Jedda’s belongings from the attic. The fire collapses Prosperous’s shed. August and Joey escape and drive to Aunt Nicki’s house. August accuses Nicki of stealing Albert’s dictionary and using it to leverage money out of the council. Caught, Nicki claims she took the book “to protect the family.” It’s at the office; she’ll show it to August in the morning. August and Joey drive toward the council office, believing the dictionary can save the farm.
Active
Themes
