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Chapter 9
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Past the Shallows, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Brotherhood, Loyalty, and Hardship
Addiction and Abuse
Tragedy and Blame
Father Figures and Responsibility
The Duality of Nature
Summary
Analysis
Harry goes looking for the puppy he met on the road near George Fuller’s house. He calls out to the dog but does not find it and decides to venture farther into the woods. Reaching the end of the trees, Harry spots the puppy on the veranda of George’s shack. George steps outside, waking the puppy and causing it to bark and run toward Harry. Harry is afraid that George will notice him and considers sprinting away but relents and allows puppy to pull him toward the shack.
Harry is generally an anxious, skittish little boy, yet he is willing to brave the uncertainty of nature in order to search for the puppy. His love and inherent trust of animals is so deeply ingrained that he is even willing to let the dog pull him toward the rumored danger of George’s shack.
Themes
The puppy leads Harry to George, who tells him that the dog’s name is Jake and that he is six months old. George’s deformed face makes speech and facial expression difficult, but Harry is able to understand him. George invites him inside and Harry is surprised to find that the inside of the shack is not scary, but bright and clean—even nicer than his own house. He notices a vase of fresh white lilies on the table. Harry talks to George about dogs and his family over tea and the man seems to listen and understand. He finds out that George knew Granddad years ago when “everyone knew everyone around here.”
The town’s characterization of George as a monster is revealed to be baseless, as Harry finds out that he is a kind old man who was a friend of his grandfather. The fact that Harry is quick to share personal details with George, along with George’s willingness to listen, implies that Dad does not provide him with the same understanding and that the little boy is desperate for a compassionate paternal figure.
Themes
George tells Harry that he found Jake abandoned and nearly dead on the road near the house of Daryl Jarratt, a man who lives nearby. Daryl’s dogs lead neglected lives chained up outside where they viciously bark at passersby. Harry thinks about how lucky Jake is that George saved him. After their conversation, Harry leaves but tells George that he might come back another day.
George further subverts the assumptions that have been cast upon him by the town, revealing that he shares Harry’s love of animals. George’s behavior is the opposite of Dad and Jeff’s cold indifference toward the shark in the previous chapter. By contrast, his gentle goodwill toward Jake serves as a positive example of manhood for Harry.
Themes
