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Chapter 41
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
Miles looks out over the bay from the deck of Joe’s boat, marveling at the destruction of the storm that took Harry’s life. Joe says it was the biggest swell he had ever seen and that it altered the entire coastline. Miles sees small waves starting to form around the reef and can feel the water within him.
Miles is intimately aware of the recent storm’s destruction, having nearly drowned as he lost Harry in the waves. Still, the sight of the ravaged coastline is humbling. Despite this destruction, Miles still feels inherently pulled toward the water and does not shy away from its magnetism.
Themes
Miles runs down the beach with his surfboard and spots the silhouette of his old friend Justin Roberts surfing amidst the bright light reflecting off the water. Miles surfs alongside him, remembering the countless summer days of his youth he spent at the beach with Justin and how the water had been “just for fun” back then. He remembers Mum and Harry waiting in the car to pick them up at sundown each evening and dropping Justin off at his house, only to meet up again the next day.
Miles’s decision to surf suggests that his traumatic experience has diminished, rather than deepened, his fear of the water. Though he is fully aware of the ocean’s violent potential, he still finds happiness and escapism through surfing. Additionally, reconnecting with Justin allows him to feel at peace with his past memories rather than haunted by tragedy.
Themes
As they surf together, Miles and Justin pick up where they left off years ago with no awkwardness, talking about the waves “just like always.” Justin lets Miles ride the new board his father got for him and they reminisce about their past adventures.
Again, Justin’s presence helps Miles feel connected to the positive aspects of his past as opposed to solely focusing on his traumatic experiences.
Themes
As they part ways at the end of the day, Justin tells Miles he is sorry about Harry. Miles wants to say goodbye and thank Justin but finds himself unable to do so. He waves as Justin walks away and he can feel the memory of Mum and Harry waiting for him in the car, telling him to hurry up so they can get fish and chips for dinner. Miles wants them to stay with them but is interrupted by the sound of a car horn. He turns to see Joe waiting for him in his van.
This passage marks Miles’s acceptance of Mum and Harry’s deaths. Though he wishes that he could have them back, he recognizes that he must move on from the past in order to survive. The juxtaposition of Mum and Harry waiting for Miles with Joe doing the same in the present suggests that, while the brothers have experienced immense tragedy, they have not lost everything. Although Harry is no longer with them, the two older Curren brothers remain strong in their loyal bond and may forge a happier family life going forward.
Themes
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