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Chapter 12
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Body, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Loss of Innocence
Fate, Luck, and Chance
Confronting Mortality
The Power and Limitation of Friendship
Making Meaning through Stories
Summary
Analysis
Teddy, Vern, Chris, and Gordie discuss their escape from Milo Pressman and Chopper. Gordie feels worried. Between Dusset and Milo, it seems to him like the goocher coin toss did bring bad luck. He wonders if these are signs that they should go home.
Although they survive unscathed, the encounter at the dump begins to change Gordie’s feelings about the trip. He’s beginning to see that it's serious business. In other words, he’s starting to grow up so that when he does come face to face with death (in the form of Ray’s body), he’ll be ready.
Themes
Then, as they walk down the tracks, Teddy bursts into sudden, ferocious tears. No one knows what to do. Vern and Gordie freeze. Finally, Chris—the best peacemaker in the gang—steps up. He reminds Teddy that, no matter what Milo said, Norman is still a hero for storming the beaches at Normandy. Milo is just a cheap-talking “rumdum” who wanted to bait Teddy into climbing the fence so he could sic Chopper on him. Slowly, Teddy calms down. He apologizes for crying, but none of the boys give him grief. Vern understands, but Gordie can’t imagine feeling so strongly one way or the other about his own dad.
Teddy’s delayed reaction suggests that he isn’t as tough as he wants people to believe. And it shows that he’s actually considering Milo’s indictment of his father. This is an important part of growing up. In the meantime, his friends swing into action to comfort him. Since all of the adults seem intent on ignoring or antagonizing them, they must find support among themselves.
Themes
Teddy’s tears inspire Vern to make a confession, too. He’s a little scared. Going to see a dead body isn’t a party, and he’s worried that Ray Brower is going to start showing up in his nightmares. He’s prone to them, and especially suggestible when it comes to scary stories. He still wants to go. He feels like it’s important. But it’s a bigger thing than he initially thought. The rest of the boys silently agree.
The seriousness of what they’ve taken on begins to settle on the boys. And some of the festive feeling leaks from their day. Vern acts like a good friend when, instead of mocking Teddy for his tears, he meets Teddy’s display of vulnerability with his own confession of nightmares. Although they’ve tried to ignore or downplay it, all four boys understand that there are dark and scary things in the world.
Themes
