Salt to the Sea

Salt to the Sea

by

Ruta Sepetys

Salt to the Sea: 127. Alfred Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Alfred spends the early morning spying on the women who have been housed in the drained pools far below deck. After many hours, he’s interrupted by a soldier looking for Florian. The soldier asks the women if they’ve seen Florian, and when Alfred tries to say he knows Florian, the soldier dismisses him. Alfred is angry, and thinks to himself “I did not serve this soldier. I did not serve my father. I served only one. The one.” He then salutes, “Heil Hitler!” and walks out.
Although Alfred has many important duties that will help the ship run more smoothly, he is happy to satisfy his own basic desires—like spying on women—instead of doing his job. Still, he holds on to his delusional beliefs that, even as he actively shirks his duty, he is personally serving Hitler and the Nazi Party.
Themes
Storytelling and Fantasy  Theme Icon
Family and Community vs. Selfishness  Theme Icon