Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in There There, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Cultural Identity vs. Personal Identity
Storytelling
Interconnectedness, Coincidence, and Chance
Generational Trauma
Summary
Analysis
Just after dawn, Blue is on her way to pick up Edwin and drive him to the powwow—it is the day she has been anticipating and planning for over a year. As she looks at herself in the rearview, she is grateful that she has made it back to Oakland—and back to her old self. Blue smokes a cigarette and thinks about a few nights ago, when she went out with Edwin on a friendly “non-date” to the movies. The showing was sold out, so they spent the evening walking around the lake and talking. To Blue, Edwin feels somehow “like family,” and she attributes this feeling to the fact that both of them know little about their backgrounds.
Readers at this point have intuited that Blue and Edwin are related through their connection to Harvey. Blue herself, though, is missing this piece of information, and yet still feels an inexplicable familial connection to the kind, nervous Edwin.
Themes
Blue pulls up to Edwin’s house and calls his phone. He doesn’t answer, so she gets out and knocks on the door—again, there is no answer. Blue starts to get nervous that she is going to be late for the powwow, and starts to blame Edwin, but then begins feeling sorry for the insecure, self-conscious young man. She knocks again, then scrolls through old texts and emails. Soon, Edwin comes to the door with two cups of coffee in his hands.
Blue feels genuine tenderness towards Edwin, and accepts him for who he is. Both of them have had difficulties connecting with others in the past, and their friendship is a balm to each of them.
Themes
