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Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in One Day, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Relationships and Time
Social Class
Coming of Age and the Search for Meaning
Addiction and Recovery
Summary
Analysis
Thursday, July 15, 1993. Part One–Dexter’s Story. Dexter returns home in a cab from a new acquaintance he met in Brixton. He met a woman named Tara at a night club the previous night who recognized him from television, where he interviews pop stars. Dexter was out with his old friend Callum and tried to introduce Callum to Tara, but it was late and Callum left. Dexter stayed and met Tara’s graphic design friend named Biggsy or Gibbsy. Biggsy or Gibbsy got tired of the club music and invited everyone back to his place in Brixton. Back there, people started having sex, including Dexter and Tara, but as the drugs wore off, he began to fear all the things he had to do in the morning.
Despite the seeming progress of Dexter’s character in the previous chapter, this chapter shows him going back to his old ways. This suggests that the vacation in the Aegean with Emma was perhaps just that—a vacation from his normal life. Now, back in London, Dexter finds himself losing control of his life again, as he can’t even remember if the person he leaves the club with is named Biggsy or Gibbsy. The amount of drugs he uses in this passage suggests that his addictions are becoming more demanding on him.
Themes
Emma has been eating well and drinking a lot of water. She’s now 27 and has her own furniture. She goes out about four nights a week but drinks more moderately. She’s become less sure and outspoken about social issues that she used to be adamant about. After six years, Tilly is finally no longer her roommate. Emma is single and sometimes feels lonely but has a formal date coming up that evening.
Emma’s lifestyle is much healthier than Dexter’s although in some ways, her highly regimented approach toward healthy living is its own kind of addiction. Still, compared to Dexter, she seems to have made progress in her life, including reaching the financial status to leave her roommate Tilly.
Themes
After returning home, Dexter lies awake in his bed briefly before getting ready to go visit his father. He is sweating, likely from the drugs he took, and doesn’t know how to stop. He grabs a parcel he left by the door, then drives over to work. As he’s driving, he listens to the conga player from Jamiroquai, whom he’s met and considers a personal friend. All of a sudden, Dexter feels like he’s forgotten how to steer and has to pull over after a near-accident. He sits for a little bit before driving on to a roadside pub nearby. After half a lager and a double vodka tonic in 10 minutes, he feels better about his life and goes back out to his car.
On the one hand, Dexter’s new familiarity with celebrities seems to suggest that he’s finding the type of success in television that he desires. But the cost of this success seems to outweigh the benefits, as Dexter is barely even in control of his own body as he drives his car. His decision to grab a drink after his near-accident shows how dependent on alcohol he has become in order to function in his daily life.
Themes
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Dexter continues driving until he makes it home. Dexter’s father seems pale and disheveled, perhaps from having to take care of Dexter’s mother for six months after her condition worsened. His father says that Dexter is late and his mother has been waiting. On the way out, Dexter passes his older sister Cassie. Dexter’s mother looks weak, but she can immediately tell that Dexter is sweating. He blames the material of his shirt for being hot, then hands her the parcel he brought. His mother says can tell by the wrapping that it's actually gift from Emma. The package contains several paperbacks.
The deterioration of Dexter’s mother’s health shows how, in spite of all his privilege from family wealth, he still suffers from some of the same problems as everyone else. Although Dexter doesn’t make the connection himself, his worsening addictions seem to be linked to his concern over his mother’s health and perhaps also his general fear of change and everything that will happen in the future.
Themes
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Dexter’s mother says that Emma’s gift of so many books is kind but perhaps also optimistic, and this makes Dexter uncomfortable. She asks about Emma, and Dexter tells her that she just qualified as a teacher and has her first job interview today. Dexter’s mother mentions that she saw Dexter on largin’ it recently. She says she doesn’t really like the program but thinks Dexter is a natural. Dexter says it’s not really aimed at her demographic. She maintains that she’s not a prude and just doesn’t like how much of the show revolves around humiliating people.
When Dexter’s mother says that Emma’s gift of books is optimistic, she means that she doesn’t think she’ll live long enough to be able to read all of them. She can only address the topic of mortality indirectly, and Dexter himself seems eager to avoid it. “Larging it” is slang for celebrating rambunctiously, often with alcohol or drugs, and so the title of Dexter’s show reflects what he’s doing in his personal life—which is perhaps part of why his mother disapproves of the show.
Themes
Dexter says he enjoys his presenting job and that it will be good work experience, so his mother drops the subject. She asks if he’s staying for the night. He says he can’t because he has a work thing and promised to take Emma to it. His mother says she’s tired and has to go upstairs to sleep. Dexter helps her get upstairs and into bed. As Dexter leaves the room, he's aware that one day soon, he’ll leave and never see his mother again.
Dexter seems to be eager to leave because when he sees his mother, it reminds her of how she’ll one day be gone. When Dexter helps his mother into bed, this shows how their roles are shifting and he is increasingly responsible for taking care of her. This seems to disturb Dexter, making him want to avoid his mother, even though he does seem to care for her.
Themes
Dexter briefly goes down to talk with his father before going up to his childhood bedroom to look for something. He stops in the bathroom, finds some of his mother’s old valium and takes it. In his room, which has been packed up and is used for storage, Dexter thinks about his mother dying at only 49 and wants to cry. He intends to take a short nap but ends up sleeping for six hours.
The valium that Dexter takes from his mother continues to show how Dexter’s addiction is progressing and requiring more and more. It also shows how he is losing control of his body, as he intends to take a short nap and ends up being out for six hours.
Themes
As Dexter gets up, he passes his mother’s room where the door is open, and she says he slept the day away. She wants to talk to him, so he comes in. She tells Dexter that she thinks he has the potential to be exceptional but worries that he’s not as “nice” as he used to be. Dexter apologizes and says he can stay the night, but his mother says he should go. She says when he sees Emma, he should thank her for the books. In fact, however, Dexter lied about having plans with Emma.
Dexter’s mother’s comment about how Dexter has slept the day away is a larger comment on how Dexter sometimes sleepwalks through life and misses opportunities. Dexter’s lie to his mother about seeing Emma continues his pattern of lying to people close to him in order to avoid having to have difficult conversations about how he’s really doing in life.
Themes
When Dexter goes to leave, his father informs him that he’s hidden Dexter’s car keys because he’s drunk. Dexter protests that he’s only hungover. His father insists on driving him to the station. Along the way, Dexter thinks about his mother’s comment about him not being “nice” anymore. His father seems angry at first, then like he’s about to cry. He tells Dexter not to come back and see his mother while drunk or high ever again. His father drops him off and he waits at the station for a train to London. He decides to make a phone call.
Dexter’s father’s decision to take Dexter’s car keys away shows how Dexter needs someone to be strict with him, even as he’s now in his mid-20s. Dexter seems perhaps to be closer to his mother, who is more permissive with him, while Dexter’s father takes a firmer approach. In this passage, Dexter shows some minor progress by accepting his father’s help and admitting that he needs it.
Themes
At 7:00 p.m., Emma is looking in the mirror, doing a last check before her date. As she heads out, the phone rings, but she is running late and decides just to leave it. The message is from Dexter. He says he was going to ask her to do something, then in the middle of the message, he remembers that she has a date planned. He says he’s had a terrible day and done bad things, then eventually promises to call tomorrow before hanging up.
Although Dexter lied about having a date with Emma, the lie turns out to have some basis in truth because Emma has her own date that evening. While going out on dates suggests that Emma is opening up to the world, her lateness in departing suggests that she is still struggling to get everything together. Dexter’s voicemail shows how this is a time in Dexter and Emma’s lives when they’re not communicating, just barely missing each other on the phone instead.
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