This Is Where It Ends

by

Marieke Nijkamp

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Themes and Colors
Gun Violence Theme Icon
Community and Tragedy Theme Icon
Family and Sibling Relationships Theme Icon
Change, Uncertainty, and Growing Up Theme Icon
Abuse Theme Icon
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in This Is Where It Ends, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Abuse Theme Icon

The town of Opportunity, Alabama, seems to be a quaint and wholesome place, but flashbacks throughout the novel show moments of violence and abuse perpetrated or endured by nearly all the characters. Most notable is Tyler’s history of abusing others, namely Autumn and Sylvia, prior to becoming a mass shooter; however, Tyler himself has also been abused, and his experiences certainly shape his nefarious character. In all these cases, instances of abuse are either hidden or dismissed as the routine unpleasantness of adolescent life; by showing how these supposedly minor events of abuse culminate in a mass shooting, the novel argues that they are in fact major problems and encourages the reader to reexamine accepted but problematic social behaviors.

Prior to the shooting, most abuse in the novel is perpetrated by Tyler. Tyler is frequently involved in fights with other kids at school, notably Tomás. He picks on a queer classmate, Kevin Rolland, and his ex-girlfriend Claire says that he “wasn’t just angry…he was vindictive.” Tyler specifically targets Sylvia because she’s the sister of his nemesis, Tomás, and because as Autumn’s girlfriend she takes his sister’s attention away from him. During a school dance, Tyler corners Sylvia and threatens to “teach her” to leave his sister alone. When the two girls continue their clandestine relationship, he eventually rapes Sylvia as a form of “punishment.”

In her own narrative, Autumn characterizes Tyler as a source of protection and support, but her flashbacks reveal that he has knowingly revealed her plans to leave town to their abusive Dad, who subsequently hits her; on another occasion, Tyler even hits her himself. Just as insidiously, he intimidates and threatens his sister while simultaneously trying to convince her that he has her best interests at heart, a form of mental abuse that keeps Autumn trapped in an unhealthy relationship.

At the same time, Tyler is himself a victim of abuse. In response to his angry and vindictive nature, his classmates at school unite to shun him. Although this is an understandable reaction to his bullying, it’s also a form of social abuse and a less productive response than, for example, trying to address the sources of his anger. Tyler also lives with a largely neglectful and often abusive father. While most of his father’s explicit rage seems to be directed at Autumn, it’s clear that Tyler’s home situation is frightening and disturbing as well. Even though he’s not being physically hit, he’s being deprived of any peace of mind and learning that it’s acceptable to express one’s feelings through violence against others.

Prior to the shooting, characters dismiss these abusive situations or regard them as natural; this allows Tyler’s behavior to escalate into mass violence. Both Autumn and Sylvia hide, even from each other, Tyler’s abuse. Autumn’s refusal even to acknowledge the meaning of her brother’s behavior suggests that she thinks it’s natural or deserved, while Sylvia seems to think there’s no way to stop his actions.

Although the novel’s description of Opportunity High is rife with incidents of bullying and fistfights, teachers never seem to step in and address this problem. Rather, they appear to think that the students’ tendency to inflict pain on each other is acceptable and unlikely to lead to serious consequences—a belief which, as Tyler’s actions show, is deeply misguided.

The novel shows that Tyler’s character has been shaped by and expressed itself through social behaviors which the people around him see as unpleasant but unavoidable, but are actually highly insidious. By showing how comparatively small instances of abuse lead to much bigger problems, the novel argues that society should seek to address these behaviors on a smaller, containable level before they spiral out of control.

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Abuse Quotes in This Is Where It Ends

Below you will find the important quotes in This Is Where It Ends related to the theme of Abuse.
Chapter 4 Quotes

My brother, who cared for my bruises when Dad couldn’t contain his grief. Who helped me dance in secret. My fingers wrap around the ballet charm. Even after everything he’s done, he is my home.

Related Characters: Autumn Browne (speaker), Tyler Browne
Page Number: 42
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

The only things that give us purpose are the stories that tie us together. We all have so many secrets to keep. And I hold mine close.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Autumn Browne
Page Number: 50
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

The Browne family had been part of Opportunity for generations—but no more. When Mrs. Browne died, Ty raged against everyone who tried to help him. He wouldn’t eat the food anyone brought; he snarled at our sympathy. Still, the town forgave his grief. Until Mr. Browne drowned his sorrows in alcohol and Tyler doused his in hatred. After a while, Opportunity took the withdrawal and the lashing out personally.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Tyler Browne
Page Number: 75
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 16 Quotes

I need to get to Sylv before Ty sees her. Because if he does, there will be nothing left. If she dies, I will never be able to tell her that she is the one who keeps me standing. That her lips taste like a promise. That she makes me want to be a better version of myself.

Related Characters: Autumn Browne (speaker), Sylvia Morales, Tyler Browne
Page Number: 187
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 24 Quotes

The last thing I see before I fade is Ty turning the gun on himself. The last thing I hear is Ty saying, “I just don’t want to be alone anymore.”

Related Characters: Autumn Browne (speaker), Tyler Browne
Page Number: 261
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 25 Quotes

Ty made good on his promise. I didn’t need to die for him to kill me. He simply lowered his gun and pulled the trigger. And his bullet tore my knee to shreds.

Related Characters: Autumn Browne (speaker), Tyler Browne
Page Number: 270
Explanation and Analysis: