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Chapter 6
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Vox, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Action, Complacency, and Resistance
Language, Communication, and Power
Children, Indoctrination, and Acclimatization
Control, Religion, and Gender Essentialism
Choice and Personal Fulfillment
Summary
Analysis
Jean is dreaming and Patrick is snoring when Sonia starts screaming, “Mommy, don’t let it get me” over and over. Jean throws herself out of bed and races for Sonia’s room, passing Sam, Leo, and Steven. She feels like an awful mother as she notices the twins crying and keeps going. But Jean throws herself onto Sonia’s bed and clamps a hand over her mouth. Since Jean is out of words for today—it’s 11:30 p.m.—Patrick and the boys hurry in and soothe Sonia. Now, Jean feels useless, and she tells herself she doesn’t hate her male family members. But she does a little bit. In the living room, Jean pours herself three drinks in quick succession and waits for midnight.
The counter doesn’t differentiate between thought-out words and words shouted in a panicked time of need. So Sonia is in danger here as she screams for help, but while she does ultimately get comfort, it’s also not really comforting to be so physically quieted in a situation like this. And Jean finds herself unable to be a good parent to any of her children due to the pressures the counter puts on her. She cares more for Sonia now because Sonia could be in serious danger, while also realizing that Sam and Leo need her too—just not in the same way, as they won’t suffer physical harm for screaming after a nightmare.
Themes
Instead of going to comfort Sonia, Jean goes outside and screams, “You fucking bastards” again and again. She keeps screaming even when Patrick comes outside and begs her to stop. Lights come on at the Kings’ house next door, and Evan comes outside and threatens to call the police. Patrick finally wrestles Jean to the ground, and looking at her counter, he tells her she’s out of words for the day. They hear sirens coming.
Themes
