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Chapter 29
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
Will knows he handled Marcus’s request for help with Fiona poorly, and he even knew it at the time. But he also knows he would have no clue how to personally handle another one of her depressive episodes. The truth is, Fiona’s desire to end her life because she no longer sees “the point”—Will’s two least favorite words—forces Will to confront “the point” of his own life, and this terrifies him. Will accepted long ago that his existence was effectively pointless, a truth he buries beneath his blithe, cool-guy persona. He couldn’t imagine telling Fiona there was no point if she asked him for a reason to stay, and he’d rather not be “dragged under” along with her.
This section explores Will’s internal conflict and his fear of confronting deep existential questions. When Marcus asks for help with Fiona, Will’s discomfort and inability to deal with serious emotional issues are once again foregrounded. Fiona’s suicidal thoughts force Will to face his own feelings of meaninglessness, something he has long avoided by maintaining his carefree persona. His reluctance and refusal to be “dragged under” like Fiona betrays his fear of being overwhelmed by emotions he doesn’t feel equipped to handle.
Themes
Unlike Fiona, Rachel is refreshingly “buoyant.” She keeps Will afloat, and he decides that she’s the kind of person he needs to be around. Though they have not yet been physically intimate (much to Will’s dismay), he still finds himself wanting to be around her and caring about what she has to say. These feelings are a first for Will, who has historically been emotionally closed off in his relationships.
Despite their lack of physical intimacy, Will’s growing emotional attachment to Rachel and his interest in her thoughts implies a significant change from his previously detached, exploitative relationships. Rachel represents a new kind of relationship for Will, one where emotional connection is more important than superficial, fleeting attractions. This shift reflects Will’s gradual journey towards emotional maturity.
Themes
Will confides in Rachel about Fiona’s recent slide back into depression and the whole business about “the point.” Rachel reminds him that he has Marcus now, suggesting that perhaps he is part of Will’s purpose. She explains that life rarely has just one purpose, anyway; it’s made up of many “points,” which are all the things people love that give them reason to stay. Rachel discloses that she, too, was once depressed like Fiona but realized she could never end her life simply because she “didn’t want to miss out” on the little things that bring her joy. Shortly after this conversation, Will and Rachel have sex for the first time; afterward, Rachel offers to speak with Fiona woman-to-woman. Will agrees, though he notes a strangeness in Rachel’s voice that he cannot quite place.
Rachel’s conversation with Will about Fiona’s depression offers him a different perspective on the purpose of life. Rachel suggests that Marcus might be part of Will’s unique purpose, introducing the idea that profound meaning can be found through relationships. Her belief that life consists of many “points,” or sources of joy, challenges Will’s previous notions of life’s utter pointlessness. Rachel’s personal revelation about her experience with depression and reasons for choosing life emphasize the importance of finding joy in small things. This conversation is an important one for Will’s growth, prompting him to reconsider his outlook on life and his misguided idea of “purpose.”
Themes
