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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
Early one morning, Miles is coughing “from somewhere deep” as he gets ready to leave the house for a day of work on the fishing boat. Noticing his dark circles and puffy eyes, a concerned Harry asks Miles if he is sick in hopes that his brother will stay home so that Harry can take care of him and they can watch television together.
Harry’s concern for Miles’s wellbeing is yet another example of his mature, thoughtful nature. Although Harry wants his brother to stay home and keep him company, Miles’s adult responsibilities force him to work on the boat even at the risk of his health.
Themes
Miles ignores Harry and heads out with Dad, still coughing. After Miles leaves, Harry is unable to fall back asleep and resolves that he will soon go out looking for the puppy who approached him along the road and led him to George Fuller’s house.
The fact that Miles is made to work when he is sick implies that Dad either does not know about Mile’s illness or does not care, hinting at his indifference and lack of responsibility as a parent.
Themes
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