Previous
Chapter 20
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
At school, Marcus runs into Ellie and her friend Zoe. He mentions that he knows Kurt Cobain doesn’t play soccer, then proceeds to tell Ellie about a “friend” who listens to all of Nirvana’s music. Marcus, meanwhile, admits to the girls that he’s still unsure about the “grunge” scene. While he appreciates Nirvana’s music, he ultimately prefers classic artists like Joni Mitchell and Mozart. Ellie and her friend laugh at Marcus’s quirky nature and his tendency to miss sarcasm, then they say they’ll see him around. Triumphantly, Marcus notes that this was “the longest conversation he’d had with anyone at school for weeks.”
Marcus’s conversation about Kurt Cobain and his own musical preferences showcases his genuine, if somewhat naïve, approach to social interactions. Marcus’s difficulty understanding sarcasm and his unique tastes in music underline his distinctiveness and isolation from his peers, but Ellie and Zoe don’t seem to mind. The girls’ laughter at his quirks reflects their bemusement but also highlights Marcus’s earnestness. His sense of triumph over having the longest conversation he’s had in weeks is one small, but significant, victory for Marcus in his quest for social interaction.
Themes
Marcus excitedly tells Will about his interaction with Ellie and Zoe, thrilled that he made the girls laugh. He asks Will if he can bring Ellie to the flat sometime, but Will reminds him that Ellie is 15, three years older than Marcus, and likely doesn’t hang out with 12-year-olds; besides, she probably has an older boyfriend. Marcus ignores Will’s reservations, determined and convinced he will be able to make the two girls laugh again. He’s already done it once, after all.
Marcus’s enthusiasm and persistence in maintaining his new connection with Ellie and Zoe are evident here. His excitement about making them laugh highlights his growing confidence and desire for social acceptance. Will’s reminder of the age difference and potential complications reflects his practical concerns and protective instincts. Marcus’s disregard for Will’s reservations and his determination to replicate his previous success emphasize his youthful optimism and single-mindedness.
Themes
The next day at school, Marcus approaches Ellie and Zoe by the vending machines. He asks Ellie if she has a boyfriend, and she treats the conversation like a joke, claiming her boyfriend is 102 years old and offering to set Marcus up with someone. In response, Marcus earnestly tells Ellie he doesn’t “feel ready” for a girlfriend yet. When Mrs. Morrison appears and orders Ellie to her office for once again wearing her Kurt Cobain sweatshirt instead of her school uniform, Ellie casually defies the headmistress. Marcus is amazed by Ellie’s bold behavior, admiring her fearlessness and willingness to challenge authority.
Marcus’s continued efforts to connect with Ellie speak to his inexperience in romantic matters. His straightforward response about not feeling ready for a girlfriend offers a contrast to Ellie’s more humorous approach to their conversation, emphasizing both his sincerity and naivety. Ellie’s defiance of Mrs. Morrison’s authority further highlights her rebellious nature, which fascinates Marcus. His admiration for Ellie’s boldness reflects his desire for a role model who also embodies confidence and independence, contrasting sharply with his own experiences of authority and conformity.
Themes
At lunch, Ellie and Zoe find Marcus eating alone and invite him to join them in their form room, a surprising gesture witnessed by everyone in the room. Ellie even gives Marcus a tiny kiss in front of the crowd, and he privately relishes his peers’ confused and amazed reactions. Introducing Marcus to the other students in the 10th-grade form room, Ellie declares that he is the only other Nirvana fan in the whole school. Though everyone laughs and Ellie and Zoe treat Marcus somewhat like a show-and-tell item, he feels included, even “adopted,” for the first time in a long while.
This section depicts a significant social breakthrough for Marcus. Ellie and Zoe’s gesture of inviting him to their form room and Ellie’s kiss in front of the crowd point to a major shift in Marcus’s social standing. Ellie and Zoe’s friends actually acknowledge Marcus’s existence, and his introduction to them as a Nirvana fan makes him feel special and included, despite the somewhat objectifying treatment he receives. The reactions from his peers and his own feelings of being “adopted” reflect Marcus’s newfound sense of belonging and acceptance in this moment.
Themes
Get the entire About a Boy LitChart as a printable PDF.
