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Chapter 14
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Great Alone, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Trauma and Violence
Paranoia and the Vietnam War
Isolation
Family and Community
Death and Grief
Coming of Age
Summary
Analysis
Leni dreams that she is drowning and that the only person who can save her is Matthew. However, she is not able to make it back above water because something below is pulling her down, into the cold darkness. When she wakes, she makes her way downstairs to breakfast. Cora notices that her daughter is taking more care of her appearance than normal and cautions her to stay away from Matthew. She tells Leni that falling in love with Matthew is sure to cause problems. Leni tries to downplay her relationship with Matthew, but she knows Cora is right.
Leni’s dreams reflect her perception of reality; she feels close to death in her present context, and Matthew is the only one who can save her. It is Ernt that is pulling her down, keeping her from happiness and safety. Also, in a reversal from normal, Cora must caution Leni about her behavior with a boy. Leni knows her mother is right, but it doesn’t seem as though she plans to listen. In this way, she is more like her mother than she realizes—not to mention just a typical teenager.
Themes
After breakfast, Ernt drives Leni to school. However, on the way, he stops at the Walker estate because he notices Tom’s new construction project. He gets out of the car and starts screaming at Tom, who stands there with a smile on his face. The rest of the drive to school is mostly silent; Leni knows she shouldn’t say anything and her father mutters profanity under his breath. When she arrives at school, Matthew encourages her to skip work so they can hang out. Although Leni is hesitant, she eventually agrees.
Ernt’s reaction to Tom’s new project isn’t a surprise and he behaves predictably. Meanwhile, Leni almost immediately gives in to Matthew, despite her mother’s warnings. Like Cora, Leni just cannot help herself when it comes to the boy she loves.
Themes
Later, Leni stops at Marge’s store to tell her she cannot work. Marge once again warns her about being seen with Matthew. Afterwards, Leni and Matthew go to a hill where they cannot be seen and look at clouds. Matthew apologizes for pushing Leni the day before he left. Leni accepts his apology and tells him that she knows how people can react violently after a tragedy because of her father’s post-war experience. Soon, the conversation turns to Matthew’s stay in Fairbanks and before long he reveals that he wants to live his adult life in Kaneq. Leni wants nothing of the sort. However, she enjoys the rest of their afternoon together as they hold hands and look up at the sky.
Matthew’s apology to Leni is an important development for his character. Although the novel briefly plays with the idea that Matthew could end up like Ernt, this moment dispels that notion. Unlike Ernt, Matthew knows how to express true remorse for his mistakes. He is genuinely sorry for hurting Leni—this is his second apology—and he is ashamed for how he acted. In contrast, Ernt’s apologies are almost immediate and reactive; he does not reflect on what he’s done to his family and shows no signs of growth.
Themes
Leni knows that trouble is brewing; she cannot stop thinking about Matthew and Ernt continues to grow wilder. One day, at the Harlan estate, Ernt and Earl show up and gather everyone around. This is an immediate red flag for Leni, who recognizes her father’s “Big Idea smile.” The idea, in this case, is that Ernt and Earl want to surround the Harlan property with trip mines to kill intruders. Ernt is convinced that an apocalyptic scenario is coming, in which people like Tom Walker will try to take his land. However, despite Earl’s support, this idea is one step too far for Thelma. She tells Ernt and Earl that they are crazy and will more likely kill one of the children than an intruder. Earl ultimately gives in to Thelma’s protest, which Leni can tell angers her father.
Here, Ernt’s behavior becomes unhinged. His paranoia leads him to dangerous places and even Mad Earl ultimately sides against him. As such, Ernt manages to alienate everyone in the community. The only people he has left are Leni and Cora, both of whom stay by his side out of fear and obligation. Furthermore, Ernt’s hatred of Tom Walker is becoming increasingly pathetic. By this point in the novel, Tom’s proved himself to be resourceful, intelligent, and kind. In sharp contrast, Ernt’s shown himself to be abusive, selfish, and petty.
Themes
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