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Chapter 26
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Looking for Alibrandi, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Family
Identity, Freedom, and Coming of Age
The Immigrant Experience
Gossip and Appearances
Social Status and Wealth
Love and Relationships
Summary
Analysis
On the Sunday before exams, Josie finds herself watching Robert’s rugby match. She tries to study, but every time someone scores, a hysterical fan knocks her book away. Suddenly, John appears and joins Josie. Josie explains that Robert promised to take her to the St. Anthony’s graduation if she went to the match; John laughs and says that he and Ivy have been planning to go together since they were little. John says he wishes Josie and Ivy would be friends, and he wants them to be there for each other. Josie is confused and says she and Ivy are different, but John laughs and says that today, they’re going to be “gay and lighthearted.”
Though Josie’s presence at Robert’s rugby match may suggest familial loyalty, Josie also makes it seem like the St. Anthony’s graduation is where all the wealthy, influential people are going to be—and this is backed up when John notes that he and Ivy are going to go together. It’s perplexing when John wishes Josie and Ivy could be friends and support each other. It’s unclear where this is coming from, since the animosity between Josie and Ivy seems to be common knowledge amongst their peers.
Themes
John and Josie are loud and excited for the rest of the match and afterward, John walks Josie home. As they walk, John asks if Josie is still dating Jacob. Then, John asks to tell Josie a secret: he had a big crush on her a few years ago, but was too afraid to ask her out. Josie laughs and says she had a crush on John then, too. They hold hands and Josie says that she hopes she and John will always be friends. Maybe, she suggests, she, Jacob, John, and Ivy should go out together if “[they] survive the HSC.” John looks at Josie with concern and asks if she’s planning to die.
Especially after John said that he wants Josie and Ivy to be friends, admitting he had a crush on Josie here reads as somewhat concerning. Though John seems happy and lighthearted, the book frames him as being oddly lighthearted. Josie doesn’t seem to pick up on this, though, in part because she’s so focused on getting through her HSC exams.
Themes
Josie says she’s just ready for this year to be over, even though she’s terrified of what comes next. John tells Josie to just make her own decisions, like him. He proudly says he has a future planned for himself and he’s not going to follow in his father’s footsteps. John hugs Josie and swings her around; Josie says he’s being ridiculous. She asks what John is going to do now that he’s “emancipated,” and he says he’s going to do whatever he wants.
Here, Josie confirms that she equates “emancipation” with growing up and being able to make one’s own decisions. So she sees that John has become emancipated because he now understands that he doesn’t have to do everything his father wants him to do; he can take control of his future.
Themes
Josie thinks that everything seems to be working out well. By the time she gets home, she feels optimistic. She hugs John goodbye and feels better about studying law, since he’ll be in the same law courses with her. That night, Josie spends two hours on the phone with Jacob and then thinks about her upcoming six years at university. She sleeps well, knowing she has a community to support her through it all.
Recall that earlier in the novel, John shared that he didn’t want to study law—so it’s somewhat odd that Josie still expects to be studying law with John next year, since he’s decided he’s going to make his own choices now. This suggests that Josie might be missing important information about John and what his plans for the future are.
Themes
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