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105. Joana
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Salt to the Sea, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Agency, Willpower, and Fate
Storytelling and Fantasy
Memory and Survival
Family and Community vs. Selfishness
Summary
Analysis
Emilia wakes up. Joana tries to get her to move around a little bit, but she resists. Joana finally understands what happened to Emilia, and Emilia sees that Joana looks at her differently. Joana takes Emilia’s hands and tells Emilia what she has been waiting to hear, the words she thinks her “Mama would say […] if she could.” Joana tells Emilia she’s so sorry for what happened to her.
Emilia has carried immense shame and guilt as a result of her rape. She worried that revealing this part of her past would change how others viewed her. However, Joana understands that Emilia is a blameless victim of sexual violence. Joana still cares for and respects Emilia, and treats her with additional kindness now that she understands the trauma Emilia has endured.
Themes
