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Chapter 9
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Beneath a Scarlet Sky, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
War and Morality
Coming of Age
The Power of Music
Love and Death
Summary
Analysis
Snow begins to pile up on the trails around Casa Alpina, causing difficulty for Pino’s escort missions. Because of the snow, he must go less frequently and take larger groups. After one mission, he returns to Bergstrom’s hut (his usual resting place before returning to Casa Alpina) to find a note that reads “Last warning.” Pino takes the note, starts the fire, and then steps outside. Suddenly, he hears an explosion from inside and realizes Tito or one of his men placed an explosive in the fireplace. Later, Father Re and Pino realize that their current route is no longer an option because Tito’s threats seem serious. Instead, Father Re proposes a different route and instructs Pino to teach it to Mimo.
Taking larger groups on missions means there is a higher risk of getting caught, but one Pino and Father Re feel is necessary to take. Indeed, they do get spotted by Tito, which means taking a different route, presumably one that is more dangerous if they decided against using it previously. In the face of all this danger Pino stands tall and continues to do the right thing.
Themes
Pino’s next escort mission is undertaken with Mimo. Their job is to escort a small family and an old violinist whom they know from Milan. Before departing, the boys reintroduce themselves to the violinist, who recognizes them. The violinist, whose fake name is Mrs. Napolitano, tells Pino that her husband was recently caught by the Nazis and sent away on a cattle car. Pino offers sympathy to Mrs. Napolitano and promises to get her to Switzerland. However, because Mrs. Napolitano is not in good shape, he can tell the hike will be difficult for her.
Previously, when Pino escorted Luigi, he had a difficult time, and that was during summer on an easier trail. Now, he and Mimo must guide Mrs. Napolitano during the winter on a significantly more difficult trail. This hike is shaping up to be the most difficult yet, but Pino still remains confident. Additionally, this section of the story refers to the cattle cars that were often used to transport Jewish people to concentration camps. The destination of the cars can be surmised by most modern readers but would not be known by most Italians at the time.
Themes
Indeed, the trip quickly proves troublesome for Mrs. Napolitano. Before long, she suggests that she return to Casa Alpina with Mimo. Pino tells her that doing so isn’t possible and that it would put everyone in danger. Immediately afterwards, Mrs. Napolitano throws up and reveals to the group that she is pregnant. To make things easier on Mrs. Napolitano, Pino carries her violin for her; it is a Stradivarius, her prized possession. The group continues to make progress, but they move slowly because of the increased amount of snow.
On top of her already apparent physical disadvantages, Mrs. Napolitano’s pregnancy is a serious drawback for the trip. It is dangerous for a pregnant woman to push her body to its limits because she could harm herself and the baby she is carrying. Also, the Stradivarius Mrs. Napolitano carries is an extremely precious item. A Stradivarius is a violin made by the Stradivari family in the 17th or 18th century; they are considered to be some of the finest instruments ever made and are incredibly rare. This would’ve been true even in the 1940s and explains why Mrs. Napolitano takes the trouble to carry her violin on the dangerous journey.
Themes
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Eventually, the group makes it to one of the more precarious sections of the hike. The rocks they must climb have turned into a wall of ice and so now they require ice picks to climb. Pino goes first, creating a path for the others. He also sends them down a rope to secure themselves with. He gets everyone up with relative ease, except Mrs. Napolitano, who is petrified. Eventually, Mimo talks Mrs. Napolitano into attempting the climb. She tries but falls. After a brief pep talk, Mrs. Napolitano attempts the climb again and eventually succeeds.
The hike requires significant bravery both from its leaders, Pino and Mimo, and from Mrs. Napolitano, who is understandably petrified at every turn. For Pino and Mimo, the test is one of leadership; they know the only way Mrs. Napolitano can make it is if they help her. Meanwhile, Mrs. Napolitano is fighting both physical and psychological conflicts inside herself.
Themes
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The group continues to make progress, but not before a storm starts to roll in. Pino knows he must get everyone to safety and out of the elements. Soon, they come to a part of the trail that looks like a catwalk. Here, a wrong step means falling and potentially dying, although Pino secures everyone with rope. Almost everyone gets across without too much difficulty, including Mrs. Napolitano. However, Mimo crosses last and does so carelessly. Pino warns him to be more careful and just as Mimo tells him not to worry, he falls over the side of the catwalk.
Mrs. Napolitano’s fears are not irrational, as Mimo’s fall demonstrates. The danger on the trail is real and it shows how desperate many people were to escape Italy during the war. Also, this is another example of a chapter ending on a cliffhanger. Mimo’s fall is ironic because he’s a leader, not an inexperienced refugee, and it shows that in such a risky situation, nobody can be too careful.
Themes
