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Chapter 55
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Between Shades of Gray, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Morality, Integrity, and Sacrifice
Strength and Identity
The Power of Art
Genocide
Women and Mothers
Summary
Analysis
Lina tells Jonas to run ahead and tell Elena they’re safe while she tells Andrius she has stolen the file. She asks him to return the file once she has read it. Lina asks Andrius to translate the Russian for her. Andrius can read enough to tell her that they have Lina listed as an artist, and that her father is in a prison in Krasnoyarsk. There is another word describing Kostas’ criminal charges, but Andrius claims he can’t read the word. Andrius is angry that Lina has put both of them in danger, but takes the file all the same. Lina says thank you and hugs him, and Andrius nods, pulling away.
Lina is perturbed that the NKVD know so much about her, even though she is only a teenager. She is relieved that she now knows where her father is, at least, since she can start to direct her drawings there, but there is also something sad about knowing where her father is but not being able to go to him or help him in any way. Andrius’ anger is less out from the imposition of Lina’s request, and more out of his disbelief that she would take such a risk.
Themes
