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Chapter 53
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 starts dating his girlfriend (who is still his partner in the present) in 1986. She is the first woman he meets who takes a genuine interest in Arsenal. Nick is glad, and the shared interest mends their relationship, which is fragile at the time. Eventually, she becomes so enraptured with Arsenal that Nick becomes resentful—she hasn’t been through as much as he has when it comes to Arsenal, so she is not as entitled to celebrate their wins and mourn their losses. Nick decides to become excessively petulant about Arsenal games in order to drive his girlfriend away from them.
Nick often resents others who attend Arsenal games who, Nick feels, haven’t suffered enough to take pleasure in the team. Nick seems to feel that people like this threaten his identity, which is based on being an Arsenal fan. He wants to feel unique, which is ironic because part of what initially drew him to football was its community of like-minded people. The degree to which Nick’s girlfriend’s interest bothers him exemplifies how his obsession still damages his relationships.
Themes
