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Chapter 23
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
Luke spends three days worrying about Jen and the rally. But whether he wants to demand an apology, persuade her to stay, or ask to go with her, he has to see her—and that’s impossible, since it’s pouring and Dad is stuck inside. So on Thursday night, Luke dozes off imagining Jen driving. He wakes up to a flashlight sweeping across his face. It’s Jen. She talks about unimportant things, like how steep Luke’s stairs are and how it’s a good thing his family doesn’t have a dog, but Luke stops her. He says he still can’t go. His parents are farmers, not Baron lawyers, and only Barons can change history. People like him, he says, just let things happen to them.
What Luke says about only Barons changing history shows that he’s developed an understanding of how money affects a person’s outlook. It’s his parents’ poverty, he implies, that means they’re so afraid of the Government and so believe the Government’s propaganda. Jen, on the other hand, has the money to be able to buy things most people can’t, so she sees how weak the Government actually is and believes she can change it. For now, it’s unclear if this view is correct in the world of the novel or not.
Themes
Jen starts to argue, but then apologizes for pressuring Luke the other day. Before she goes, she wants Luke to know he was a good friend and she’ll miss him. Luke insists that she’ll be back. If the rally works, he might even come in through the front door. Jen tells Luke goodbye.
It's ominous when Jen doesn’t really respond to Luke talking about coming in the front door. It suggests that she might be prepared to die at the rally, particularly since her goodbye to Luke seems awfully final. It’s unclear if Luke picks up on this, though.
Themes
