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78. 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 fully believes Florian’s story. He is proud to help him, but has forgotten his promise to help Emilia, the Poet, and Klaus. They ask him to wait for them, and he watches as Emilia tearfully says goodbye to Florian, who disappears into the crowd. Although disgusted by the “weakness” of Emilia’s tears, Alfred realizes that “she was Aryan, a fine specimen of the master race. She could be saved.”
Alfred continually displays a shocking lack of empathy. He is unmoved by the clear emotional bonds between the refugees, which makes their farewell more difficult, and has no pity for young, pregnant, crying Emilia. He only cares about her because she looks Aryan (although she is not).
Themes
