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Chapter 4
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Skellig, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Weakness, Strength, and Hardship
Curiosity, Nature, and Transformation
Love, Empathy, and Caregiving
Imagination, Magic, and Faith
Summary
Analysis
The next morning, Michael asks when the garage will be cleaned out. Mum and Dad say soon. While Mum takes the baby to the hospital, Dad starts work on the house. Michael doesn’t want to help Dad remove Ernie’s toilet, so he leaves for school. Michael hadn’t wanted to change schools, so he takes the public bus to his old school. On the bus, Michael looks at the various people and thinks about how you can never tell what is going on in someone’s life. Michael considers telling the passengers about the baby and the creature, but he doesn’t.
Despite Michael’s ongoing struggles, he tries to act normal in front of his parents, nonchalantly asking them when the garage will be torn down so that they don’t figure out that he is real concern is for the mysterious creature. He suggests that other people must do this too, noting the impossibility of ever really knowing what’s going on in a person’s life just from looking at them. But at this point in the story, even if Michael realizes that opening up to others might be helpful to him, he keeps his thoughts to himself, and so his struggles persist.
Themes
Although so much has happened to Michael, nothing at school has changed. At recess, Leaky and Coot play football. Disinterested, Michael stands by the fence. Mrs. Dando, one of the teachers, comes up to Michael and asks about the baby. When she offers Michael a gumdrop, he refuses and runs to join Leaky and Coot in a game of football. All day, Michael considers telling someone about the creature, but he doesn’t.
Michael’s emotions start to affect his behavior, causing him to lose interest in things he once enjoyed, like football . But he also doesn’t want Mrs. Dando to treat him differently just because of what’s going on in his life. Gradually, it becomes clear to readers that Michael’s difficult emotions are making him unapproachable.
Themes
