Summary: In Chapter 2, the family sell their family home in Illinois and move down to Berkeley in California. As Beth is preparing for college, Dave has full responsibility over Toph in this chapter and is where their relationship shifts from siblings to Dave being a parental figure. Despite the boys having fun in the sun with complete freedom, there are lapses where Dave's anxiety over the responsibility over Toph takes over the dialogue.
Key Events:
- Freely driving through California (53)
- Dave takes Toph to Little League (57)
- Imagining Toph's death (65)
- AIDS context (67)
Themes:
Freedom in this chapter are shown and presented in a number of ways:
1) Freedom in this chapter is emphasised through the presentation of 'open spaces'- "we are hundreds of feet above the ocean, often with nothing in the way of a guardrail between us and it" (50)- there are no barriers.
2) Their new found freedom is presented as powerful- "the ocean undulates and churns for us"(51) they have control over the ocean.
1) Freedom in this chapter is emphasised through the presentation of 'open spaces'- "we are hundreds of feet above the ocean, often with nothing in the way of a guardrail between us and it" (50)- there are no barriers.
2) Their new found freedom is presented as powerful- "the ocean undulates and churns for us"(51) they have control over the ocean.
Responsibility is another key theme of the chapter it is presented by:
1) There is a battle of responsibility; Dave is trying to accept but also forget- "Am I them?"
(57) contrast to 'sock sliding' diagram (62)
2) The overwhelming nature of responsibility on Dave (65)
(57) contrast to 'sock sliding' diagram (62)
2) The overwhelming nature of responsibility on Dave (65)
Anxiety is presented in this chapter by:
1) The anxiety of the loss of Toph- imaginary death "I can see his little arm...one last wave
and Gone!"(65)
2) The anxiety of own possible death- "Maybe I'm already sick" and "AIDS" (67)
and Gone!"(65)
2) The anxiety of own possible death- "Maybe I'm already sick" and "AIDS" (67)
3) The worry/fear of own actions,possible impact on Toph,- "Please look. Can you see us?"
(47)
4) The futile nature of Dave's anxiety
(47)
4) The futile nature of Dave's anxiety
Identity are also key themes in this chapter, they are presented by:
1) Uncertainty of own identity- "I need to be indomitable,a machine,a perfect fucking machine"
2) Uncertainty relationship identity-" They are the old model and we are the new"(57)
The overarching theme throughout Chapter 2 is the relationship shift between Dave and Toph. In Chapter 1 the relationship between the two was that they were siblings, however due to the increased responsibility of Toph, Dave is becoming a parental figure towards Toph. In this chapter it shows how Dave is dealing with this change.
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