Legs Character Analysis in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

A mutt that Ari adopts on the day he gets his casts off and can walk again after the accident. Though Mom isn’t thrilled to have a dog around and insists she needs to stay outside, Legs begins sleeping on Ari’s bed immediately, and soon ingratiates herself with the rest of Ari’s family and the Quintana family. She’s an extremely happy and loving dog, something that both delights and perplexes Ari. Ari takes her on daily morning runs.

Legs Character Timeline in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

The timeline below shows where the character Legs appears in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Silence and Trauma vs. Communication Theme Icon

...and says that, miraculously, his legs have healed. He says that he named the dog Legs, and that she’s great. Mom tried to keep Legs outside, but this didn’t last long.... (full context)

Identity, Ethnicity, and Masculinity Theme Icon

...his life. He’s studying for his driver’s license and for college, lifting weights, running with Legs, reading Dante’s letters, arguing with Gina and Susie, thinking about Ileana, looking through microfilm, writing,... (full context)

...the first two beers and then thinks about dreams, Bernardo, Dante, and Ileana. He tells Legs that he loves her and wonders why he’s not more grateful for what he has.... (full context)

Intellectualism and Emotion vs. Physical Strength Theme Icon

...Raft of the Medusa. They laugh and Ari misses him more than ever. Ari takes Legs out for a run later, and it starts to rain. Ari thinks about the accident... (full context)

Ari runs past Dante’s house with Legs, even though he’s not sure if Dante is back in El Paso yet. He lets... (full context)

Ari and Legs pick Dante up that evening. Mr. Quintana and Mrs. Quintana come outside to look at... (full context)

Ari drives Dante and Legs to the desert to look at the stars. After a minute, Dante says that Mrs.... (full context)

...a note asking Ari if he’s okay. Ari thinks he’s fine but as he and Legs run, he thinks of Dad and Dante. He wonders why they’re friends, but then thinks... (full context)

Ari and Dad quietly eat dinner together and feed Legs scraps. Dad invites Ari to go bowling with him and Mr. Quintana, so Ari calls... (full context)

Dad asks if Ari can have the Quintanas watch Legs. Mrs. Quintana agrees immediately. Ari thinks she sounds happier and wonders if it’s because she’s... (full context)

...that they’re glad Mom makes them talk, and Dad lights a cigarette. Ari thinks about Legs, Dante, and why he didn’t look at Dante’s sketches. He wonders if Bernardo was close... (full context)

...out with a guy. Ari doesn’t ask which guy, and Dante changes the subject to Legs. (full context)

...talk about it, though they talk about everything else. At home, Mom assures Ari that Legs is fine and happy with Dante, and Ari imagines Legs snuggling up to Dante for... (full context)

...because of his dream and wanting to masturbate. He walks to Dante’s house to get Legs. Mr. Quintana answers and Legs is thrilled to see Ari. Ari notices that Mr. Quintana... (full context)

Ari isn’t sure what to tell Mom and Dad. Legs is thrilled to be home and greets Mom and Dad while Ari tells them that... (full context)

...that people just live in spaces between hurt and healing, like Mom and Dad do. Legs watches Ari, and Ari wonders what she’s thinking and if someone hurt her. Ari wonders... (full context)

...up, and lifts weights until his muscles hurt. He showers and then wakes up to Legs lying on his stomach. Mom asks Ari if he’s okay and says that when he’s... (full context)