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The Best of Both Worlds
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Darius the Great Is Not Okay, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Friendship
Family
Persian Identity and Culture
Mental Health, Depression, and Connection
Bullying
Summary
Analysis
After school, Darius tenses up when he sees Chip waiting by the bike rack. Darius’s bike seems fine, though. Chip asks what happened to Darius after gym and says he wanted to check on Darius’s bike, since he still feels bad. Then, Chip shocks Darius by asking about his trip and Babou. They both walk their bikes toward the road, and Chip says Darius seems different—like he brought some of his ancestor, Darioush the Great, back from Iran with him. This is unbelievable: Chip knows how to pronounce Darioush and hasn’t once teased Darius about it. Darius says he doesn’t think he’s actually related to Darius the Great, but Chip says it’s still cool and it’s nice to have Darius back.
Chip’s behavior here continues to suggest that he’s not the Soulless Minion of Orthodoxy that Darius has long thought him to be. In fact, he’s pretty worldly and is even kind: he apologizes for past cruel behavior and shows that he thinks Darius’s Persian heritage is cool and something to be proud of. Hearing this from Chip may, perhaps, further convince Darius that he doesn’t need to be ashamed of or hide parts of his Persian culture or identity—and ideally, it’ll result in Chip standing up for Darius if Trent tries to bully him.
Themes
Chip is going the same direction as Darius, so after they say goodbye, Chip awkwardly follows Darius for a mile before turning off. Darius has no idea what prompted Chip’s attitude change, but he wonders if he is indeed different. He decides to ask Sohrab, whom he emails every day.
Again, Darius is different, if only because he’s now more comfortable in his own skin than he’s ever been. Noting that he and Sohrab email every day indicates that they’re working hard to keep their friendship alive from afar and continue to provide each other support.
Themes
That evening, Dad and Darius settle in for Star Trek. Tonight they’re watching an episode where Captain Picard visits family in France, which they decide is very weird timing. Mom even joins them for the episode and runs her fingers through Darius’s hair. When it’s over, Darius steeps some new tea he got for his birthday while Dad fetches cups. This is their tradition now: they have tea, and Darius tells Dad about his day. Darius is nervous to tell Dad about what Coach Fortes said, but Dad shocks Darius. He tells Darius to not let Coach pressure him, but he’d come cheer for Darius if Darius wants to play. Darius reveals he’s not sure he’ll have time for soccer, since he’s planning to apply for an unpaid internship at Rose City Teas. Surprisingly, Dad says that’d be great for Darius.
Star Trek has, at least in some special circumstances, become a family event. This represents how integrated Darius now feels in his family—it’s no longer a threat when someone other than Dad and Darius watch an episode. Then, Darius and Dad’s new tea ritual highlights how Dad and Darius are trying hard to move forward and forge a better relationship with each other. With this new ritual, they can start fresh and practice speaking openly. This doesn’t mean that Darius doesn’t still come in with expectations (that he’s shocked by Dad’s reaction to the news of the internship suggests Darius expected Dad to disapprove), but Darius is getting better at not letting his expectations get in the way of what’s actually happening in front of him.
Themes
When Darius and Dad finish their pot of tea, Darius pulls out their medication, and Dad puts the kettle on for something with less caffeine. Mom and Laleh join them for some Dragon Pearl Jasmine, which even Laleh will drink without an ice cube (it’s not brewed at a full boil). Mom says it smells like Babou’s garden, and the family falls into a nice silence. Dad asks Darius if he’s okay, and Darius says he’s great.
Tea is also now becoming something that ties the entire family together. Over a cup of tea that they all enjoy, they can appreciate one another’s company and reminisce about their time in Iran. And it’s significant that Darius says he’s great—he finally feels like he belongs and is accepted in his family.
Themes
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