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97. 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
Back in the maternity ward aboard the ship, Dr. Richter observes, as Joana has, that Emilia is traumatized. He wonders if Joana has lost anything during the war. Joana wants to say that she’s lost her family, language, and country, but she holds back.
Joana misses her family, her homeland, and everything she has lost. However she worries that, even though she has lawfully repatriated, Dr. Richter will judge her for being Lithuanian and not German.
Themes
Joana pulls a cot next to Emilia’s so they can sleep side by side. Emilia reminds Joana of her cousin Lina, as both girls had “the same blond hair and sea-blue eyes, deep with strength and secrets.”
Joana has grown to love Emilia. This is helped by Emilia’s similarity to Lina, Joana’s cousin, whom she left behind in Lithuania. Although Joana was unable to help Lina, she has done her best to help Emilia.
Themes
