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
Calvin stands near the table where Blue and Edwin sit with the prize money, his hat pulled low around his face as he keeps an eye on Tony, who is supposed to do the actual robbing, because someone in regalia will be harder to identify and investigate. Calvin and the others are here just for backup. Tony walks towards the table, but stops suddenly, turns around, and walks the other way.
Octavio springs into action, pointing his gun at Edwin and Blue. He is remarkably calm, Calvin notices, as he demands they hand over the safe. Edwin hands over the bag of gift cards, but “stupid-ass Carlos” points his gun at Octavio and demands the bag. Charles follows suit, and yells at Octavio to drop his gun. Octavio throws the bag towards Charles—but then fires a few shots at him. Charles, hit, fires back at Octavio, hitting him too. Carlos fires at Octavio’s back. Daniel’s drone crashes on Carlos’s head, knocking him to the floor. Calvin stands immobile, watching, and then feels himself get hit in the hip. He falls to his knees and is shot again, and looks up briefly to see Tony shooting at everyone before he falls unconscious.
When Carlos and Charles turn on the rest of the group, their greedy plan becoming clear at last, everything descends into chaos. Even Daniel is, in a way, a part of the fight to defend his family from violence—but it’s too late, and the violence unfolding between these five young men is seeping into the rest of the powwow.
Themes
