Previous
14. 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
After everyone else has fallen asleep Joana comes back to talk to Florian. He agrees to let her see his shrapnel wound. Emilia also comes over to help, and Florian tells her to go away, but Joana asks her to look outside for a stick for Florian to bite. Joana tells Florian that Emilia came from Nemmersdorf, and he immediately understands.
Although suspicious of Florian, Joana is unable to resist her compulsion to help those in need. Emilia has formed an attachment to Florian, although he has not done the same with her, and, like Joana, just wants to help him.
Themes
Joana introduces herself as a Lithuanian physician’s assistant. This is not a problem for Florian, who says, “I don’t care what you are.” She asks him for his name but the does not give it.
Joana wonders if Florian is a Nazi, and so reveals her nationality as a way to test him.
Themes
As Florian closes his eyes and waits for Joana to begin to operate he thinks to himself, “I’ll be dead soon.”
Florian knows his mission is inherently dangerous, but also believes there is added danger because he is cursed.
Themes
