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Chapter 20
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Among the Hidden, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Propaganda, Fear, and Control
Privilege, Wealth, and Perspective
Protest and Resistance
Coming of Age, Independence, and Family
Summary
Analysis
Dad gets a letter from the Government forbidding him from growing things indoors in February. After reading the books from Jen, Luke is the only one who can decipher the difficult language. He explains that the Government is afraid Dad will grow something illegal, and they want to confiscate the supplies. Mark giggles at the thought of Dad growing drugs, but Dad says this is serious—they might not be able to afford shoes next year. Dad says he could get a permit, but Luke has just finished the part of the letter that states the Government doesn’t give permits for hydroponics.
Being able to decode the letter from the Government is a sign of how much Luke has changed over the last few months. He might not be in school, but thanks to Jen, Luke is receiving an education of sorts. Luke doesn’t seem concerned in this case about Dad wondering where Luke learned to read this kind of language, which suggests Luke is growing more comfortable with the life he leads separate from his parents. And again, the Government shows how unpredictable and controlling it is by denying the permit in the first place.
Themes
Luke wonders again is his family could afford more things if he wasn’t around. He tells himself he doesn’t eat much and exclusively wears hand-me-downs, and it’s not like the attic is sufficiently heated. Even worse than these worries, though, is the fact that Dad now has nothing to do and so is home a lot. Luke only visits Jen three times in February and March, but she’s always thrilled to see him. They bake cookies, play games, and Jen shares stories about her life. Her mom used to take her to a play group for third children. Most of the kids there had parents in Government, and it seemed like some parents didn’t really want the kids—having a third child was more of a status symbol than anything else.
It's another clue that the Government is perhaps less effective than it wants people to think that it essentially tells Dad to sit at home and do nothing all winter. Their goal seems to be control, not actually creating a functional food production system. It’s no doubt a shock for Luke to hear about the play group for third children, and it highlights Jen’s privilege once again. It also shows where she may have learned to stand up for what she believes in, if she thought some parents were having more than two kids to make a statement and defy the Government.
Themes
Jen says at the play group, she also got to spend time with another kid’s dog. Luke is incredulous; nobody can keep pets anymore. Jen says that’s because of the food issues; there’s more food for people if they don’t also have to feed a bunch of pets. Suddenly, Luke feels guilty for taking food away from animals as well as people. Seeing his expression, Jen reminds him it’s all a lie—especially now that people aren’t having enough babies. This piques Luke’s interest.
Even if Luke wants to believe Jen is right about the Government lying about food scarcity, deep down he still seems to suspect that it’s not morally right for him to exist. Again, Luke doesn’t want to be responsible for causing someone else to starve, whether that starving being is human or animal. Accepting this responsibility, though, also points to Luke’s youth: as one kid, he’s only a tiny part of the problem, but he doesn’t fully grasp this.
Themes
Jen explains how after passing the Population Law, the Government launched a campaign to make women think having kids was bad. They made pregnant women out to be criminals, insisted pregnancy makes women ugly, and now, pregnant women can’t be in public. She starts to mention the rally, but Luke distracts her by asking what pregnant women do. Jen says they hide, just like shadow children, though some also pretend they’re gaining weight.
The Government has essentially criminalized pregnancy, even if a woman is pregnant with her first or second child. This is another attempt to control the population and if Jen is right and not enough women are having babies, it’s been successful. The Government’s propaganda machine seems strong and competent.
Themes
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The conversation turns to whether Jen and Luke’s brothers would turn them in if they could. Jen says that Brownley and Buellton love her, and she jokes that they also aren’t smart enough to not get the whole family in trouble. Luke insists Mark and Matthew would never give him up, but Jen asks if they might someday be motivated by the cash reward for turning him in. Luke remains firm, but he also feels like his brothers are outgrowing him these days. When Luke crawls home later, he thinks hiding isn’t so bad—as long as he has Jen. Dad will also be in the fields planting soon. But April, and the rally, arrive before planting season.
Neither Jen and Luke think their siblings would turn them in, but Jen wants to know if Luke’s family’s poverty would change things down the line. Essentially, she suggests that Mark and Matthew might one day want financial relief more than they want to do the difficult work of sheltering their brother—an idea that seems to root in Luke’s mind, even as he tells Jen she’s wrong. It’s a sign of how important Jen’s friendship is to Luke that he thinks hiding is alright with a friend. She’s making his life livable right now—though the ominous ending here suggests his happiness will soon end.
Themes
