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13. Homesickness
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Boy, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Authority and Hypocrisy
Beauty and Imagination
Growing Up
English Nationalism
Summary
Analysis
During Roald’s first Christmas break, Roald’s 21-year-old half-sister takes the family for a drive in their first motor-car. Although she’s only received two short driving lessons, Roald’s half-sister is confident and the children in the backseat egg her on. As they yell at her to go faster and faster, the car suddenly approaches a sharp turn, and Roald’s half-sister brakes and turns at the same time. The passengers all go flying out of the car, but Roald is the only one hurt. The glass of the windshield slices his nose almost completely off of his face. Roald’s mother holds his nose in place and guides his half-sister to Dr. Dunbar’s house, and after the doctor and his assistants operate on Roald’s nose back at the family home, he’s fine. Roald’s mother gives him a gold coin for his bravery.
Much like she did while keeping the family together after Harald’s death and steering the boat in Norway, Roald’s mother exhibits remarkable composure and competence. The accident could have taken Roald’s nose like his father’s accident ended up taking his arm, but thanks to his mother’s initiative and Dr. Dunbar’s reliability, he manages to keep it. This story, in contrast to Harald’s, presents another rare case of adults who wield authority well to protect the children in their care. It’s notable that it takes place in Wales and on Roald’s Christmas break from school—one must wonder whether Matron and the school doctor would have managed so well.
Themes
