Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

by

Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe: Part Six, Chapter Eight Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Ari tells Mom that he didn’t know he could love her this much. Her smile is suddenly not sad, and she says that Ari helps her bear everything. Ari warns her that he’s going to disappoint her, like he did today. Mom says she understands why he did what he did, and Ari feels as though she understands something about Ari that even he doesn’t understand about himself. Ari looks through pictures of Bernardo and asks where Dad went. Mom says that he went to see Sam to talk, since they’re friends.
The fact that that Dad went to see Sam shows that, just like Ari, Dad is starting to seek help and affirmation from other people. He’s beginning to realize that he can’t just be silent about things and expect everything to work out. This sets an example for Ari and encourages him to seek out Dante, as well as Gina and Susie, as he figures out who he is.
Themes
Silence and Trauma vs. Communication Theme Icon