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Chapter 35
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Indian Horse, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Family and Tradition
Cultural Genocide
Abuse and Trauma
Racism and Prejudice
Transcendence
Summary
Analysis
In the end, Saul finishes up his season with the Moose and then accepts Jack Lanahan’s offer to train in Marlboro. In his final days with the Moose, Virgil pushes Saul especially hard in his training to prepare him for the rigors of big-league play.
Even after he knows Saul is moving on, Virgil continues to work closely with Saul to prepare him for his future, suggesting that Virgil is a true friend to Saul.
Themes
A few months shy of seventeen, Saul says goodbye to his adopted family and boards a bus to Toronto, where he’ll be training. At the bus station, he tells Virgil he’ll miss Manitouwadge. Virgil smiles and says, “You worked damn hard, Saul. You’ll do good down there.”
Virgil and Saul’s goodbye is simple but poignant. Virgil clearly has a lot of love and respect for his adopted brother, and Saul seems to have found a home in Manitouwadge.
Themes
Virgil tells Saul, “You’re like a brother to me.” Saul nods and explains that he used to have a brother. Virgil doesn’t ask anything further, but he tells Saul, “Maybe someone just gave you a chance to rub the shit off the board once and for all.” With this, Saul and Virgil say goodbye, and Saul boards the bus.
