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Chapter 21
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Fever Pitch, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Obsession vs. Fandom
Sports, Identity, and Community
Escapism
Sports and Masculinity
Summary
Analysis
Nick remembers much of his life in great detail, owing to the fact that he associates life events with the football games that happened at the same time. Right before Arsenal plays Derby in 1972, Nick’s first girlfriend breaks up with him. Nick is miserable as he watches the game, but for the first time it’s not because of the match but because of the breakup. This breakup changes his relationship to Arsenal. Up until this point, football was the only thing he cared about. Now, Nick has “another sort of life.”
This marks a momentous occasion in Nick’s relationship to Arsenal, as it’s essentially the first time he really cares about anything other than football. Nick realizes that there are valuable experiences outside of football games, and his obsession begins to lessen.
Themes
