Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Washington Black, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Freedom vs. Captivity
Racism, Humanity, and Cruelty
Journeying and the Past
Family, Love, and Pain
Art, Science, and Curiosity
Summary
Analysis
That evening, Goff insists on having a winter picnic, and so they dine outside at Regent’s Park. After visiting Walcott’s, Tanna and Wash wandered silently through the city, unable to talk about the hanging. On a blanket, Goff has set out cold meats, salads, and a frosted cake. When Tanna complains about the cold, Goff says that he’ll be dead soon and asks that they allow an old man this pleasure.
The fact that Tanna and Wash seem unable to talk after learning about the hanging builds up mystery around it, but again suggests that it is someone who played a part in Wash’s past. This again shows how omnipresent Wash’s past has become in his life, that he can’t seem to escape it.
Themes
As Tanna, Goff, and Wash eat, Wash feels that his mind is elsewhere. Tanna and Goff reminisce about Tanna’s favorite aunt, Henrietta Lemieux, who is very accomplished and has had four husbands. She says that Henrietta used to accompany them to the seashore, and now she is interested in glass-blowing—she makes tiny glass trees. Wash and Tanna both fall silent, unable to keep up their enthusiastic chat, while Goff smiles and eats happily.
Even though Goff often annoys Tanna, she and Wash do their best to make Goff happy by cheerfully talking about Tanna’s aunt. But their silence also suggests that they all fall short of supporting each other, as Wash and Tanna don’t feel they can discuss Wash’s concerns with Goff.
Themes
