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Chapter 28
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
As the weeks go by, Marcus’s life seems to keep improving. He spends time with Ellie and Zoe, and Will takes him out for a haircut and a new pair of glasses, introducing him to good, new music that Ellie also listens to. And then one day, Fiona’s depression returns. When her morning crying starts up once again, Marcus begins to fear the worst. However, he is comforted by the crucial difference between the first time this happened and now: he has Will and Ellie in his life to lean on for help.
Marcus’s life begins to improve significantly as he finds joy in spending time with Ellie and Zoe and receives essential support from Will. However, the return of Fiona’s depression disrupts this progress, reminding Marcus of the tenuousness of his situation. But this time, he has a newfound support network in Will and Ellie, which provides him with a sense of confidence and self-assuredness that he lacked before meeting them.
Themes
The second day his mum cries during breakfast, Marcus turns to Will, expecting him, as the adult, to take charge of the situation. However, when Will responds by asking what Marcus plans to do, Marcus is startled and explains that he needs his friend’s help. Will tells him that, precisely because of their friendship, he shouldn’t get involved in this kind of drama. “I can tell you who Kurt Cobain is and what trainers to get, and that’s it. Understood?” Will explains, and Marcus nods. But the more he thinks about it, the more he feels that friends usually don’t treat other friends that way.
When Fiona’s depression resurfaces, Marcus instinctively turns to Will for help, expecting him to take charge as the adult. Will’s refusal to get involved results in Marcus feeling abandoned. Will’s firm delineation of boundaries, particularly at this critical juncture, highlights his inability to engage deeply in others’ lives, reflecting his ongoing struggle with emotional intimacy and responsibility. Marcus’s realization that true friends don’t shirk from difficult situations signifies his growing understanding of genuine friendship and support, contrasting with Will’s more self-centered approach.
Themes
Marcus feels more optimistic about asking Ellie for help with his mum because, unlike Will, she actually seems to like him. But when he sees her at school, she’s not acting like her usual self; she’s tearful and quiet, holding hands with Zoe. They tell Marcus the news: Kurt Cobain overdosed and had to have his stomach pumped. Ellie believes that one day, Cobain will succeed in killing himself because he “wants to die.” Marcus bristles hearing this, and he becomes angry with Ellie for seemingly caring more about a musician she doesn’t even know than about her own friend. He shouts that Cobain is just “someone on a sweatshirt” and isn’t even anyone’s mum; Ellie retorts that he’s someone’s dad “and he still wants to die.” Unable to handle any more of this awful exchange, Marcus leaves.
Marcus’s optimism in seeking Ellie’s help is thwarted when he finds her distressed over Kurt Cobain’s overdose. Ellie’s belief that Cobain wants to die infuriates Marcus, as he grapples with the parallel between Cobain and his mother’s depression. This confrontation exposes the raw emotions and differing perspectives on suicide, with Marcus’s anger rooted in his fear and personal experience. The emotional outburst underscores the strain that both Marcus and Ellie are under, with Marcus feeling Ellie’s concern for Cobain is misplaced compared to the immediate, personal crisis he faces with his mother.
Themes
Needing time to think, Marcus skips his next class and hides out in a bathroom stall. Soon, Ellie comes looking for him to apologize for what she said about Kurt Cobain; she hadn’t considered the connection between Kurt and Marcus’s mum. She sits next to him in the stall and admits she doesn’t know nearly as much as she claims to, and she can’t imagine what it must be like in his shoes. At her words, Marcus starts to cry—something he never intended to do in front of Ellie—but she stays with him, and they remain there together for a long while.
Ellie’s decision to follow Marcus and apologize demonstrates her genuine care for Marcus. Her willingness to sit with Marcus as he cries, in spite of their argument, demonstrates the depth of their new friendship, as they share a truly vulnerable and intimate moment. This interaction not only solidifies their bond but also reveals Ellie’s capacity for empathy, despite her tough-girl exterior. For Marcus, this experience is a poignant reminder of the importance of having supportive friends who are willing to stick around during even painful times.
Themes
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