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Chapter 18
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Motorcycles & Sweetgrass, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Cultural Maintenance vs. Loss
Grief and Trauma
Colonialism and Land Use
Stories and Religion
Humor
Summary
Analysis
John gets coffee at the local diner. He is a selfish and vain man, but he also cares deeply about community, and his time with Maggie has brought out a desire to help Otter Lake. A group of men enter the diner, making fun of John and his motorcycle. He calmly punches one of them in the face, apologizes to the waitress, and leaves. He shows up at Maggie’s work and tries to convince her to skip an important meeting to get lunch with him, but she refuses.
Even when John wants to help people, his understanding of the world is so far removed from modern human morals and standards that he doesn’t comprehend why people like Maggie would be confused or upset by his behavior. He is quick to resort to violence when challenged, and he can’t fathom why Maggie might prioritize her responsibilities over him.
Themes
John considers leaving Otter Lake altogether because of Maggie’s rejection, but he decides to honor his promise to Lillian. He has a plan to win her affection and help Otter Lake. He no longer wants to include Maggie in his plan, but he thinks Dakota will make a good accomplice. He finds the address of a Cree businesswoman and flirts with her until she gives him the information he wants.
John once again displays his immaturity in his inability to cope with Maggie’s refusal to skip work to have lunch with him. However, even though his morals don’t align with human ones, John does have a moral code. He commits to the promises he makes, and his promise to Lillian holds particular weight because of his attachment to her.
Themes
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