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The Workouts, the Hustles, the Drive-in Theater
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Mexican WhiteBoy, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Race and Identity
Fate vs. Opportunity
Violence, Power, and Coping Mechanisms
Coming of Age
Family, Friendship, and Culture
Summary
Analysis
1. One night, Danny hears Sofia and Tommy talking in the kitchen. Sofia asks if Javier always had a temper, and Tommy replies that both Javier and Ray were violent troublemakers when they were young. Tommy says that Javier seemed different the last time they saw each other and that he doesn’t think Danny takes after him. Sofia replies, “They say when you’re exposed to it, though, it’s more likely.” She remembers how terrified Wendy was when Wendy came to stay with Sofia’s family one weekend. Tommy says he loves Javier but that he deserves what’s happened to him.
This conversation alludes to the idea that violence and other personality traits tend to run in families. Again, Danny doesn’t acknowledge his father’s flaws, even though Danny remembers Javier attacking a stranger and being arrested. Whereas Sofia is afraid that Danny will take after Javier, Danny actively tries to be as similar to his father as possible. Sofia and Tommy’s conversation implies that Javier physically abused Wendy. Danny does not pick up on this implication, but he may begin to be more skeptical of his dad. It’s not clear exactly what Tommy thinks Javier deserves, but Tommy implies that something bad happened to Javier.
Themes
