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Chapter 40
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
The Black siblings walk through town. They pass the campers in their park but no one pays any attention to them. The full moon lights up the jetty. Blacky points out the “Boongs piss off” graffiti and explains to Greggy that “boong” is a slur for an indigenous person. Greggy asks why someone would write that and Tim explains that it’s because the writer is a racist who doesn’t like indigenous people.
Blacky and Tim’s conversation with Greggy shows how there’s hope for less racism in the future, as they’re able to have an honest, frank conversation with their younger family member about the racism of their town. This contrasts with the denial and avoidance that Blacky has encountered from the adults in town.
Themes
All the siblings want to help cover up the graffiti. Going from youngest to oldest, they each paint over one letter. By the end, only the letters “SS OFF” are left, but Blacky insists that they finish the job and cover the whole sentence. Blacky knows the graffiti won’t be gone forever, but he’s content that it’s gone for tonight.
The family working together to cover up the graffiti represents how everyone can (and must) collaborate to confront racism. The fact that the graffiti won’t be gone also indicates that confronting racism is a continuous responsibility that one must undertake over time, rather than a single act.
Themes
When the graffiti is all gone, the Black siblings clap and cheer. Then, everybody becomes quiet. One of the siblings, Kevin, wonders what they’re going to do now about their father. They decide they’ll go sleep by Black Rock. As they lie down by the rock, Jenny suggest that they sing The Brady Bunch theme song. Blacky protests, but then joins in singing. They sing a few more songs, including the Gilligan’s Island theme song.
Blacky’s participation in The Brady Bunch song shows that, thanks to his siblings helping him, he has realized that the show’s message of family support is not unrealistic after all. Their gathering around the Black Rock symbolizes the new sense of belonging and community Blacky feels with his siblings.
Themes
Blacky tells them about how many of the stars they’re looking at are already dead. No one responds and Blacky realizes that all the siblings have already fallen asleep. Blacky knows they’ll be in serious trouble tomorrow but for the moment, surrounded by his family, he is “as happy as Larry.”
Blacky’s contentment with his family offers hope for the future. Even though he’ll likely continue to struggle with his father and his town, he will have the love and support of his siblings to help him. Thus, he finally understands his mother’s phrase (“as happy as Larry”) because he finally understands his place in the family.
Themes
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