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Chapter 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Dry, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Human Cost of Climate Change
Justice
Urban vs. Rural
Friendship
Summary
Analysis
When Falk is getting ready to drive away, a blonde woman named Gretchen Schoner who knew Falk 20 years ago stops him. She is the woman from the photo with Luke, Falk, and Ellie. She insists that Falk should come to the wake, so they start walking to the community center. She introduces Falk to her five-year-old son, Lachie. Falk remembers hearing she had a child but can’t remember who the father is. Gretchen is a single mother, and her parents moved to Sydney to be closer to her sister, so she is often alone.
Gretchen reveals to Falk how things have both changed and stayed the same in Kiewarra, with her appearance in real life contrasting with the photo of her from 20 years ago. The identity of Lachie’s father becomes another mystery that may have a connection to the murders or may just be a false lead. Gretchen’s lonely life suggests how despite the town’s smallness, it can still be an isolating place for people who don’t quite fit in, like the single mother Gretchen.
Themes
Falk asks if Gretchen was still close to Luke, and she says she hadn’t been for a while. Falk thinks again of the photo and how he, Luke, Gretchen, and Ellie used to all be close and think their friendship would last forever. As they approach the community center, Falk worries people will remember him, but he goes in anyway. Inside, he notices that the old police sergeant has died, and a new one, Sergeant Raco, has taken his place, starting the job right before the murders.
Falk reckons with how his plans and expectations when he was younger turned out to be wrong. He thought his friendships at the time would be permanent, but it turns out that they dissolved shortly after the photograph was taken. Just as Falk has to confront his own false assumptions, he also has to accept that other people in town have made (potentially) false assumptions about him.
Themes
Falk and Gretchen see Luke’s parents, Barb and Gerry. Gretchen hugs them first. Falk hadn’t spoken to either of them until a week ago when Gerry called him, commanding him to come to the funeral, then sent a letter that arrived a few days later. While they’re all talking, Gerry implies that Falk needs to stay in town for the night instead of driving back to Melbourne. Eventually, Gerry takes Falk aside and says they have to talk.
The more time Falk spends with Gerry, the less it seems like Gerry is trying to threaten him; still, Gerry’s note to Falk remains a mystery, particularly since Barb doesn’t seem to know about it. Falk himself doesn’t seem compelled to stay in town and solve the murder, but Gerry’s insistence provides some motivation.
Themes
Falk asks Gerry if this is blackmail, and Gerry seems surprised, saying that if he wanted to do that, he could’ve done it years ago. Gerry says the real reason he needs Falk around is because he needs to know “If Luke had killed before.” Falk understands exactly what this question means: that Gerry believes Luke killed his family (something most people at the funeral seem to believe) and now wants to know if Luke also killed Ellie 20 years ago. But before Falk can answer, a woman calls Gerry to say the chaplain needs him.
Gerry’s reaction to Falk’s accusation of blackmail adds a new twist to the story. As it turns out, Gerry doesn’t suspect Falk of killing anyone: he suspects Luke of potentially committing a crime 20 years ago, and he thinks Falk might’ve helped cover it up. Gerry and Falk have this conversation about secrets in a public place, perhaps reflecting how in a small town almost everything becomes public business.
Themes
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Alone again with Gretchen, Falk asks if Luke had been showing any concerning behavior lately, like depression. She says he didn’t seem the be coping with the drought any worse than anyone else. Now, she says, some people almost seem jealous of Luke, because with him and his whole family gone, he doesn’t have to worry about debts or the next rainfall. Falk asks how Karen’s family is doing, and Gretchen says Karen didn’t have much of one after her parents and the aunt who raised her all died.
The unusual reaction in town to Luke’s death—that some people almost seem jealous of him—suggests how deep the desperation runs in Kiewarra during the drought. Notably, everyone’s chief concern seems to be money and paying off debts, and so while at first Falk’s background as a financial crimes officer might have seemed unusual, it becomes increasingly likely that the Hadler deaths have some financial significance, making Falk’s specialty fitting after all.
Themes
Gerry and Barb address the crowd at the wake. Barb thanks everyone for coming. She talks with difficulty about how Luke was a friend to many and loved his family, then someone in the back interrupts to say that Luke’s supposed love for his family didn’t stop him from killing them. The shouting man is Grant Dow, who has a reputation for being obnoxious. Barb ends her speech. Falk says goodbye to Gretchen, explaining that he’ll leave town the next morning.
Dow’s interruption at the funeral shows the deep divisions that exist in the town. Dow gives voice to what many at the funeral seem to be thinking (but don’t say aloud out of respect for the dead). Dow’s willingness to interrupt the wake could also point to how the drought conditions have upended social norms and perhaps even made the residents of Kiewarra more familiar with death and therefore less inclined to respect people in mourning .
Themes
