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Chapter 23
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Deadly, Unna?, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Race, Injustice, and Action
Courage and Masculinity
Duty and Sacrifice
Teamwork and Family
Summary
Analysis
Blacky comes across Darcy at his usual fishing spot on the jetty. Darcy talks about the fish he just caught and about the new maggots he’s been experimenting with. Blacky admires his dedication. Blacky tells Darcy how Pickles has been selling maggots he found on roadkill. Darcy says he’s not worried because his maggots are higher quality.
Again, Blacky’s concerns are now completely separate from the racism that once troubled him deeply. Still, Blacky admires the qualities of determination and dedication he sees in Darcy, traits Blacky lacks himself.
Themes
Blacky asks Darcy if he was ever married. Darcy says yes, but it didn’t work out. He says he doesn’t understand women because he’s spent too much time alone. Darcy can tell Blacky is worked up over a girl and tells him that if he likes a girl, he should tell her so, because life is short.
Darcy again takes on a fatherly role by giving Blacky romantic advice. Unfortunately, he recommends that Blacky do exactly what he so often fails to: act quickly and decisively. At this point, Blacky is completely preoccupied with his crush on Cathy and doesn't think much at all about how to combat the town’s racism, showing how easy it is to prioritize self-interest and accept the status quo.
Themes
