Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Uglies, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Conformity vs. Individuality
Beauty, Science, and Influence
The Natural World, History, and Growing Up
Friendship and Loyalty
Summary
Analysis
Tally and Shay let the breeze carry them along as they hoverboard at the treetop level at the edge of town. From there, they can see New Pretty Town behind them as well as the greenbelt, which separates the new pretties from the older pretties in the suburbs. Shay says that Tally is ready for a night ride outside the city. Tally replies that there’s nothing out there, but Shay says there are trees, mountains, and the Rusty Ruins, which are the remains of an old city full of too many unintelligent, ugly people. Tally refuses and is shocked when Shay says she’s been before. Shay says there’s nothing out there to catch them, and it’s easy to get out of town using the river.
The way that Tally describes the Rusty Ruins indicates that she thinks very little of societies that preceded hers, especially when combined with her comments about Cleopatra in the previous chapter. Shay’s desire to sneak out of the city again points to her independent, curious nature, which contrasts sharply with Tally’s hesitance to go. Tally seemingly doesn’t see any reason to test boundaries, whereas Shay is naturally rebellious.
Themes
Shay says she’s been wanting to show Tally the ruins since Tally told her daring story of crashing the party, and Tally regrets not telling the whole truth—now, Shay seems to think she’s a daredevil. Tally suggests they wait the few months until their operations, but Shay insists that being pretty and being required to have fun is boring; this is their last chance to be themselves. Tally says that they can still do stuff like this after they “turn,” but Shay points out that pretties never do. Tally suggests that maybe this is because partying is better than tricks, but Shay thinks that people just don’t seem interested after the gruesome operation. Her description makes Tally flinch. Shay pulls off her interface ring and promises to show Tally a roller coaster.
Again, the way that Shay and Tally talk about what pretties do and don’t do raises many questions about what life as a pretty is like. Judging by what Tally saw in New Pretty Town—heavy drinking and jumping off of buildings for fun—there is some risk and rebellion involved in being a new pretty. However, it’s likely that this is just the illusion of risk, since it happens in New Pretty Town where hover technology seems to keep people safe. Outside the city, however, the lack of safety features means the risks are real.
Themes
Shay says that she wants to do something she thinks is fun, before they have to do what everyone else thinks is fun for the rest of their lives. Tally wants to tell Shay that she already feels like Tally’s best friend and that hoverboarding is the coolest thing she’s ever learned. Tally agrees to go, and Shay swoops in beside Tally to hug her.
By teaching Tally to hoverboard, Shay has given her an important tool that will help Tally hang onto her independence and her individuality. In doing so, Shay has done one of the most important things friends can do for each other: help them be who they want to be.
Themes
