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Chapter 17
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in About a Boy, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Chosen Family
Coming of Age and Maturity
Alienation and Mental Illness
Identity, Pop Culture, and Fitting In
Summary
Analysis
To Will’s extreme aggravation, the Christmas season seems to begin earlier and earlier each year. This means he is subjected to “Santa’s Super Sleigh” more regularly than he would be if people stuck to the traditional holiday schedule, which was still annoying, but at least it was predictable. Christmas was always his misanthropic father’s least favorite time of the year—because writing the commercialized Christmas song “ruined his life”—and it is Will’s least favorite, too, for more or less the same reason. Eventually, after his parents passed away and he lost touch with other family members, Christmastime became an excuse for Will to get drunk and high and watch movies by himself—a tradition he feels entitled to keep alive.
Will’s aversion to Christmas is rooted in a complex family history and personal disdain for the holiday’s rampant commercialization. When he hears “Santa’s Super Sleigh,” he cannot help but think about his father’s commercial success with the famous Christmas song, which he blames for both his father’s misery and its impact on his own adult outlook. The loss of his parents and estrangement from other family members underscore his isolation, especially during the Christmas season, turning the holiday into a period of self-indulgent escapism. This backstory explains Will’s cynicism and preference for solitude during the holidays—and most other days, at that.
Themes
Nearing the holiday, Will can’t help but think about Marcus, who he hasn’t seen since Fiona yelled at him about the trainers. He figures this is most likely because of the similarities between Marcus and Fiona and his own “dysfunctional” family, recalling how his father drank himself to an early death. As if on cue, Will receives a surprising call from Fiona. She tells him Marcus has decided he needs a father figure in his life—despite Will’s protestations that Marcus already has a father—and has insisted that Will fills the role. The conversation naturally devolves into a spat, as they tend to when Will and Fiona speak, and the pair agree to meet in person to properly discuss the “father figure” matter.
Will’s internal conflict resurfaces as Christmas approaches and he finds that Marcus is on his mind. His reflection on his dysfunctional family and his father’s demise illustrates the lingering impact of his volatile upbringing. An unexpected call from Fiona complicates matters: Marcus wants Will to be a father figure for him, a mentor to help guide him through his adolescence. Commitment-phobic Will is initially resistant to this idea, and his ensuing argument with Fiona highlights the ongoing tension between them when it comes to what is best for Marcus.
Themes
When Fiona and Will meet up for a drink, it occurs to Will that this is the first time he has ever been alone in a pub with a woman he doesn’t want to sleep with. Initially, he worries he won’t know how to act or what to say, but to his pleasant surprise, he soon finds himself absorbed by their conversation. As they speak, Will slowly realizes he might actually serve as a good mentor for Marcus because he seems to understand him in a way Fiona cannot. Will believes that he, unlike Fiona, would never allow a child to completely consume his life. By the end of their meetup, they tentatively agree that Will won’t answer his door if Marcus comes knocking—but Fiona warns him, “You can’t just shut life out, you know.”
Will’s initial discomfort and surprise at enjoying the conversation indicate his growing openness to meaningful connections beyond superficial encounters. Will’s belief that he wouldn’t let a child dominate his life contrasts with Fiona’s more consuming parenting style, highlighting their differing approaches. The tentative agreement and Fiona’s warning emphasize the balance between protecting oneself and embracing life’s complexities, setting the stage for further development in Will’s character and his relationship with Marcus.
Themes
