Son

by

Lois Lowry

Son: Book 3, Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Gabe wakes up late. Kira is feeding Matthew and Annabelle breakfast, and she says that someone in the village is ill and asked for Jonas. At the table, Gabe has some breakfast and asks if the children will remember this later. Kira supposes they’ll remember that they were loved and cared for. She remembers snuggling with her mother. Gabe admits he doesn’t remember anything like that. He remembers riding in the bike seat—and he remembers some woman who truly loved him.
Gabe continues to think over the mother-child relationship, and the impact such a relationship has on a child in particular. As he well knows, the impact of experiencing love early on sticks—he can remember his mother, after all—but being without that relationship for most of his life has been emotionally devastating.
Themes
Pain and Maternal Love Theme Icon
Gabe admits that he does have a gift, but he wanted to test it out again before he shared. Earlier, he says he veered into Matthew because he wanted to know what it felt like to be a little kid with his mother. His body didn’t move, but he entered Matthew’s consciousness and understood what it’s like to feel his mother’s love. And it made him remember that he had felt that before, though he doesn’t know where his mother is.
Perhaps because Kira is a mother, Gabe feels more comfortable sharing with her about veering. The novel continues to position veering—which is essentially empathy—as something that helps Gabe gain understanding. Additionally, it connects him to others on an emotional level.
Themes
Emotion, Individuality, and the Human Experience Theme Icon
Family and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Later, Gabe declines to take a walk with Kira and the toddlers and instead asks if he can go find Jonas. The sick woman, Kira says, is Claire. She tells Gabe he can leave his paddle here and points him in the direction of Claire’s house. As he jogs, he can’t fathom that he has to kill Trademaster, whoever that is. He’s not bothering anyone here right now, so it’d be better to watch for him and scare him off if he comes back.
Again, Gabe is focused on his own experience and needs. Trademaster doesn’t seem important to him because, right now, he doesn’t believe Trademaster is affecting him or anyone he loves at all. Even if this were true, though, this view ignores all the people Trademaster is hurting right now—a view the novel suggests is youthful and selfish.
Themes
Family and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Community and Sacrifice Theme Icon
There are a few elderly women outside Claire’s cottage, and none of them forbid Gabe from entering. It’s dark and stale inside. Jonas is sitting by the old woman who’s lying in bed. Gabe has no idea why Claire asked for Jonas, or how Jonas could think this is more important than what he and Gabe were discussing about Trademaster. Jonas shushes Gabe and leans forward when Claire’s lips move. She tells Jonas to “Tell him.”
Gabe trusts and loves Jonas, so he feels a bit betrayed that Jonas has seemingly abandoned him for Claire. This reflects Gabe’s youth and his developmentally appropriate self-centeredness. A more mature reaction, perhaps, would be to approach the situation with curiosity rather than annoyance.
Themes
Family and Coming of Age Theme Icon
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