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Chapter 2
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in We Deserve Monuments, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Truth vs. Secrecy
Independence and Coming of Age
Family, Inheritance, and Legacy
Grief, Resentment, and Isolation
Racism, History, and Resistance
Summary
Analysis
The next morning, Avery dresses in her school uniform and wakes Mama Letty to take her pills. Avery and Mama Letty poke fun at each other and end up laughing together. Avery is confused when Letty compares Avery to her (Avery’s) grandfather, because Avery grew up not knowing who her maternal grandfather was. Mama Letty is unsurprised that Zora never told Avery about Ray, Zora’s father. At breakfast, Sam invites Avery to return to D.C. with him for a weekend, and Avery finds she is not excited at the thought of returning to her old life and old friends.
As Avery slowly develops a bond with Mama Letty, she also begins to discover hidden truths about her family. In this way, Mama Letty functions as a gatekeeper of the truth, granting Avery access to secrets only when Mama Letty chooses. Connecting with Mama Letty and learning more about her family is another step in Avery’s development beyond the person she was in Washington, D.C., which informs her lack of excitement to return to her friends.
Active
Themes
Avery attends her first day of school at the small, unimpressive Beckwith Academy. A bronze statue of an old man stands in front of the school. Avery puts prepares herself for a lonely school year, but Simone and Jade see her and extend friendly greetings. They explain that the statue is the school’s racist founder Richard Beckwith. Avery has her first class with Jade and Simone. Simone and Avery are the only non-White people in the class, and the teacher makes clear as soon as class starts that Jade is her favorite student. A boy in class makes fun of Avery, speculating about her sexuality, until Jade steps in and defends her.
The glorification of Richard Beckwith highlights that attitudes in Bardell have not changed much since his time, since the people of the town have no issue honoring a known racist with a statue. The predominantly White population of the school, and the homophobia that Avery encounters in her fellow students, further emphasizes that Richard Beckwith’s bigotry is not a relic of the past.
Active
Themes
Avery eats lunch with Simone and Jade. She comes out to them as pansexual, and she is relieved when they are supportive and not homophobic. Jade draws Avery a picture to welcome her to Bardell, and Simone tells Avery to stay in Georgia for the weekend rather than returning to D.C. with Sam.
Active
Themes
