Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Out of the Dust, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Nature, Survival, and the Dust Bowl
Poverty, Charity, and Community
Coming of Age
Family and Forgiveness
Summary
Analysis
Billie Jo and her father attend FDR’s Birthday Day and dance with each other as Arley and the Black Mesa Boys play music. At 10 p.m., Arley stops playing and announces they have raised $33, which they will donate to the cause of infantile paralysis. The event reminds Billie Jo of last year, when her family was excited about the baby. At that point, she was still playing piano, and she performed at the party. Although this year’s party is not as joyous as the previous year’s, Billy Jo has fun, and her father even laughs a few times.
Charity is important to Billie Jo’s entire community. None of them have enough money to support themselves and their families, yet they still put on charitable events for those less fortunate. Not only does the event contribute to a good cause, but it also gets a few rare smiles out of Billie Jo and her father. It is the first time their relationship has felt somewhat normal since the death of Billie Jo’s mother.
Themes
