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Chapter 21
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Runner, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Money, Class, and Community
Growing Up
Grief
Ambition
Crime
Summary
Analysis
Charlie is eager to return home to his family. On the train, the pompous man from the ride up congratulates him on his victory and concedes that Charlie was right about the value of speed. Once the man sits down, Mr. Redmond asks Charlie what he plans to do with his winnings, and Charlie confesses his “secret plans.” Mr. Redmond agrees to help organize Charlie’s plan.
Mr. Redmond never presumes to replace Mr. Feehan, as Mr. Peacock did, but he gently takes on a fatherly role to Charlie over the course of the novel. After training with Mr. Redmond for so long, Charlie trusts him to ask for help with his “secret plans.”
Themes
When the train arrives at Richmond, Charlie insists Mr. Redmond take the silver cup as thanks for training him and for all the Redmonds have done for the Feehans. He also tells Mr. Redmond to take as much money as he needs from the winnings to pay for a dentist for Mrs. Redmond.
The Redmonds represent the impact that community support can have on people who are struggling. They have selflessly done all they can for the Feehans without asking for anything in return. Now that Charlie is able to help the Redmonds as they have helped him, he does so.
Themes
Charlie returns to his warm house. His mother is there to greet him, and Charlie tells her that he won. Before she can move, he steps forward and “into her arms.”
Charlie falling into his mother’s arms speaks to the importance of a supportive parent. Charlie has earned enough money to stabilize the Feehan’s financial situation, so he can be a child again and look to his mother for comfort and love.
Themes
