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Chapter 15
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
May arrives and Ernt and Leni are on their way to school. Ernt tells Leni that he knows she’s been scared ever since the day of his latest speech at the Harlan property. He says he knows that their security is not good enough and he plans on fixing that. After this one-sided conversation, Leni gets out of the truck and starts heading into school. Before she can get far, Matthew waves her over into a nearby thicket and suggests that they skip school. Leni knows she shouldn’t but agrees anyway. Together, they take the ferry to Homer.
Ernt continues to be completely oblivious to the problems of those around him, especially Leni. Leni’s concern is about Ernt himself, not the lack of security at their cabin. Also, even though everyone else in town has already figured it out, Ernt remains unaware of the relationship blossoming between Leni and Matthew.
Themes
While on the ferry, Matthew tells Leni that he will be going to the University of Anchorage in the fall and thinks Leni should apply too. Leni thinks this is impossible because her family doesn’t have the money and her father will never agree to it. Matthew informs her that there are scholarships and urges her to reconsider. Leni then reveals her other reason—perhaps the primary reason—that she cannot go to college: her mother. Leni worries about how her father will treat Cora if she leaves, although she doesn’t fully explain this to Matthew.
Often when Leni is with Matthew, she is forced to confront her future head-on in a way that she is uncomfortable with. With Ernt and Cora, nothing is ever spoken about that does not have to do with living in Kaneq. Leni never even thinks about college until Matthew brings it up.
Themes
The time Leni spends in Homer with Matthew proves to be the best day of her life. They explore the city together and dream about the future, although Matthew is much more hopeful than Leni. After they return home, Leni thinks about whether college is truly a possibility. While working at the general store, Marge notices that Leni is distracted and tells her to go home. She also gives her yet another warning about spending time with Matthew.
Matthew still isn’t fully aware of Leni’s home situation and so he doesn’t feel limited by talking about the future. Still, he gets Leni to think about the next few years of her life in a way that she hadn’t previously. However, another warning about spending time with Matthew does not bode well. When warnings are not heeded in this novel, something bad is sure to happen.
Themes
At home, Leni continues thinking about Matthew. Cora asks what is wrong, but before the conversation can progress any further, Matthew pulls into the driveway. Leni tries to tell him to go away, but she is too late; Ernt is already on his way. He berates Matthew and tells him that he’ll shoot him if he shows up on the Allbright property again. Afterwards, Matthew leaves and Leni runs inside, crying. Cora comforts her and tells her once again that she should stay away from Matthew for the good of everyone.
Matthew still does not take Ernt seriously as a threat. However, this moment presses home the point that Ernt is dangerous and makes both Leni and Matthew realize that they are playing with fire. It’s also somewhat ironic that Cora keeps warning Leni about the effects of her choices when she insists on staying with Ernt even though it hurts her daughter.
Themes
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The next day, Matthew is not in school, and Ms. Rhodes asks Leni if she would mind teaching the class. Leni does so, but spends her day thinking about the delicate situation she is in. On her way home, she spots Matthew standing on a bridge. Matthew tells her that he’s been waiting for her and then takes her somewhere they cannot be seen. They each reveal that they cannot stop thinking about one another and then share a first kiss. Afterward, they both acknowledge that they’re putting themselves in a dangerous situation, but they feel it’s worth it.
Even though they know their relationship is dangerous, Matthew and Leni take things a step further. This is a significant coming of age moment for both characters, both of whom have never shared a kiss with anyone before. However, they are going against the many warnings of Marge, Ernt, and Cora, and repercussions are sure to follow. In this way, Leni is like her mother; she chooses love over her parents’ wishes and arguably against her own physical safety.
Themes
After their secret meeting, Leni heads home, still thinking about her love for Matthew and the possibility of going to college. Later that day, Leni notices that her parents are going fishing. Thinking they won’t be back for some time, she rides her bike to the Walker estate and tells Matthew that she missed him. Matthew says that they need more time together and suggests meeting outside of her property at midnight the next day. Leni thinks his plan is too dangerous, but before they can complete their conversation, Ernt shows up and begins yelling. It turns out that he saw Leni leave and followed her. He thinks that Cora saw her as well and is angry that she would allow Leni to see Matthew. When they arrive home, Ernt locks Leni out of the house and brutally beats Cora.
Love makes Leni careless and ultimately Cora must pay the price for Leni’s mistake. It is the type of brutality that Ernt expresses in moments like these that makes Leni hesitant to go to college. Such a rash decision could very literally kill her mother. Ironically, Ernt beats his wife for Leni’s actions, even though Cora cautioned her to do the opposite. As such, it seems impossible to make Ernt happy and his behavior is only getting worse.
Themes
