Previous
63. Florian
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
Alfred writes another mental letter to Hannelore. He tells her how he has marked a functioning toilet as inoperable so that he can take breaks there privately. He reminds her that he is “truly exceptional,” and although he doesn’t have friends he often thinks of her.
Even in Alfred’s fantasy world he is shirking his professional responsibility. As he hides in a bathroom stall, he thinks of himself as being “truly exceptional,” demonstrating the depth of his delusion.
Themes
