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
Pete Guymon, who delivers produce to Mr. Hardly’s store, comes down with dust pneumonia and dies. Because he cannot drive his truck, all of his current produce rots and goes bad. Immediately after Pete’s death, Mr. Hardly finds a new supplier because his store is empty.
Tragedy happens all around Billie Jo on a daily basis. However, the community has to weather it and move on immediately if they want to survive. Dust pneumonia refers to a kind of pneumonia that develops when dust fills the lungs; it was particularly prevalent during the Dust Bowl. Though there’s no official tally of how many died of the disease during the Dust Bowl, it was widespread at the time.
Themes
