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Chapter 6
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Blueback, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Nature, Belonging, and Conservation
Family and Love
Greed and Environmental Destruction
The Ocean and Life’s Mysteries
Time, Change, and Continuity
Summary
Analysis
Over the course of the summer, Abel explores the coastline in his boat. The expanse of the sea and the land is dizzying and makes him feel like he’s a mere bubble on the sea’s surface.
Abel feels humbled by the wonder and beauty of nature. Experiencing the vastness of the land and sea reminds him that he belongs to an awe-inspiring natural world, even if he’s only one small part of it.
Themes
On his excursions, Abel also spots a red boat belonging to Costello, the new abalone diver. Knowing that Costello will reach Longboat Bay soon, Abel is worried about Blueback, but Abel’s mother is concerned for the entire bay. Costello is known for taking too much from the reefs he visits. Abel wants to interfere. However, Dora says only the Fisheries Department can do anything about Costello. Nevertheless, Abel resolves to do whatever he can to stop Costello.
Costello seems to care more about his own profit than about how his actions as a fisherman impact the sea. In contrast, Abel and his mother want to protect Longboat Bay out of love and respect for nature. Abel is especially passionate about defending his home and his best friend Blueback because he feels a strong connection with the sea.
Themes
One morning, Abel hears Costello’s boat entering Longboat Bay. Abel’s mother tells Abel that it’s “getting harder to hold on to good things.” While they eat breakfast, Abel notices that his mother looks older now. Suddenly, his mother asks if she should sell their land and move inland so they can have more money. Abel protests. He never wants to leave the bay. Abel’s mother admits she doesn’t want to leave either. Longboat Bay holds all her memories, including her memories of Abel’s father. Even when Abel’s away at school, she doesn’t feel lonely at home because “this place is a kind of friend” to her.
Feeling particularly aware of the passage of time, Dora laments that good things can’t last forever. Time inevitability brings change, and some changes—such as Costello’s arrival—are unwelcome. Thinking about change makes Dora wonder about leaving Longboat Bay, although she doesn’t actually want to do so. The bay isn’t just a place to her—it’s also a friend and a connection to her late husband. In the bay, nature provides Dora companionship, keeps her love for her family strong, and even acts as a member of her family in its own right. Abel’s objection to leaving Longboat Bay reveals that, like his mother, he cares more about living close to nature than enjoying material success.
Themes
Abel contemplates that his mother is different from other people. She’s quiet and strong, and she looks “like the land and sea had made her.” Abel’s mother says she wants to die in Longboat Bay as an old lady.
Dora stands out from other people because of her unique closeness to Longboat Bay. She has such an intimate, reciprocal relationship with the land and sea that it’s as if nature has shaped her, just like she has shaped nature by tending to the bay for decades. Dora belongs in Longboat Bay because her life is connected to it, which is why she never wants to leave her beloved home.
Themes
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Through binoculars, Abel watches as Costello or his diving partner hauls bags of abalone and bleeding fish onto their ship. Abel knows that what Costello is doing is wrong and wants to stop him from hurting the reef, but Abel’s mother insists that Costello is too vicious, and Abel is too young to do anything about him. However, Abel runs down to the jetty and gets into his boat. To Abel’s surprise, his mother follows him and helps him cast off. She says confronting Costello alone would be “twice as stupid and twice as dangerous.”
Abel’s anger at Costello underscores that Costello’s overfishing is unethical and cruel. Abel has a strong sense of right and wrong, and he won’t let his young age stop him from standing up to Costello on behalf of Longboat Bay. Knowing that the right thing to do is to protect the sea, Abel bravely commits to doing just that. Dora’s love for Abel is evident in her desire to keep Abel safe while helping him do the right thing. She doesn’t want Abel to do anything alone if she can be by his side, supporting him, instead.
Themes
At Robbers Head, Abel and his mother reach Costello’s boat, which is covered in blood and heaps of dying fish, including illegal crayfish. Abel’s mother orders Abel to stay put and dives into the water without him. But Abel swims to Costello’s boat instead. He tips abalone out of their crates back into the sea, hoping they’ll survive. Then Abel dives in the water and watches Costello and his partner.
The grim depiction of the many fish Costello has killed vividly illustrates how cruel Costello’s greed is. Costello is willingly harming sea life for his own gain. His exploitation of Longboat Bay is an example of how human greed and selfishness damage nature. Once again, Dora wants to protect Abel out of love for her son, but Abel wants to take action himself. By saving some abalone, Abel demonstrates the importance of protecting marine life.
Themes
Abel sees Costello and his partner try to spear a large fish—Blueback. Abel realizes Blueback is trying to feast on all the abalone Abel just released into the water. Abel’s mother puts herself between Blueback and the other divers, but Blueback swims around her playfully, continuing to make himself an obvious target. The divers keep trying to spear Blueback. Abel worries Blueback will die and his mother will drown.
Abel’s attempt to rescue the abalone was well-intentioned but reckless, and it accidentally endangers Blueback. Drawn to plentiful food and the chance to play, the friendly blue groper doesn’t realize he’s in danger. Through her efforts to protect Blueback, Dora displays her love for the fish. Meanwhile, Costello appears especially greedy and cruel for trying to spear Blueback, considering the excessive number of fish he’s already caught.
Themes
Suddenly, Blueback disappears and Abel’s mother races to the water’s surface. When she catches her breath, she rebukes Abel. She also reveals that she punched Blueback to get him to go away. Abel laughs and feels relieved that Blueback is safe. Abel and his mother return home to avoid trouble from Costello. Abel is glad his mother isn’t like other mothers.
In the end, confronting Costello doesn’t go perfectly smoothly, but Abel and Dora succeed in keeping Blueback safe. Love for his friend emboldened Abel to defend the bay. Likewise, familial love for Abel and Blueback motivated Dora to put herself in harm’s way to thwart Costello. From this experience, Abel gains a new appreciation and deeper love for his mother. He also better understands the importance of love and having help and support from family.
Themes
