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Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Great Alone, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Trauma and Violence
Paranoia and the Vietnam War
Isolation
Family and Community
Death and Grief
Coming of Age
Summary
Analysis
The morning after Ernt’s assault of Cora takes place, Leni wakes up to find her parents acting as though nothing is wrong. Angry, Leni comes to the conclusion that “Mama loved him too much to leave him.” While driving Leni to school, Ernt apologizes for the previous night’s actions and then promises her he will quit drinking so it will never happen again. Leni feels as though she must believe him; her mind cannot yet grasp any other possibilities. After her talk with Ernt, Leni walks into her classroom and sits down quietly next to Matthew. She wants to comfort her grieving friend but does not know how.
A crucial aspect of Leni’s maturation in the novel is her realization that her parents are flawed people who she does not know as well as she thought she did. Although she hasn’t completely processed the events of the previous night, it is a turning point in her life. Like Matthew, she is dealing with problems that far exceed what typical teenagers are asked to grapple with.
Themes
January arrives and the weather worsens; light is only available for six hours a day and Leni’s parents are fighting again. Between the snow and darkness, a sunny day arrives, so Ms. Rhodes decides to take her class on a field trip. She is keenly aware of how Geneva’s death affected the community, and she wants to do something that will lift everyone’s spirits. As it turns out, the field trip is a plane ride to an inlet. The plane is small, and Leni is frightened at first. However, when she opens her eyes, she is treated to some of the best scenery she’s seen since arriving in Alaska.
Tempers are already flaring up again in the Allbright home, suggesting that it is unlikely that Ernt will keep to his promise. However, apart from her home life, Leni does have support in the form of Ms. Rhodes. Like many people in the Kaneq community, Ms. Rhodes is sensitive to the needs of those around her, which is why she chooses to take the children on a field trip. There is a notable contrast created between Ernt—who’s become increasingly selfish—and Ms. Rhodes, who acts selflessly and compassionately.
Themes
When the plane lands, Ms. Rhodes gathers the young children and tells Leni and Matthew that they are free to explore on their own. Leni walks up to Matthew, who has his back turned, and tries to grab him. Matthew pushes her to the ground, trying to hide the fact that he is crying. In this moment, Leni sees flashes of her father and is scared. Matthew immediately apologizes. He tells her he is upset because he is leaving Kaneq for Fairbanks where he can play hockey, learn to become a pilot, and see a therapist. Leni is happy for her friend but knows she will miss him immensely.
This interaction between Leni and Matthew introduces an interesting question for the story: will Matthew become like Ernt? Similar to Ernt, he’s experienced significant trauma and he apologizes after acting violently. Although Matthew’s actions don’t come anywhere close to Ernt’s, there is a worry that his violent behavior could escalate. Meanwhile, Leni gets a chance to experience a small dose of what her mother deals with; this is, someone she loves acting violently toward her.
Themes
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January rages on and Ernt continues to get moodier. One night, convinced that Leni and Cora are talking behind his back, he throws his dinner to the floor and leaves, presumably to go drinking. Leni starts writing a letter to Matthew while he is gone—a new habit ever since Matthew moved—but before long she is interrupted by a scream. Cora tells her there is something outside in the dark. They eventually discern that wolves are attacking their livestock. Leni fires the rifle at them, hoping to drive them away. Once daylight arrives, Leni and Cora go outside to assess the damage. They find all their livestock dead. Knowing that the smell of fresh blood will attract animals, Cora and Leni begin a trek into town.
Although he doesn’t physically hurt Leni or Cora, Ernt’s behavior once again leaves them in danger. The Allbrights are already low on food, and Ernt’s absence makes that issue even worse. The sudden killing of all their livestock shows how devastating and unpredictable an Alaskan winter can be, and Leni’s quick thinking with the rifle shows that she’s grown a lot in her ability to fend for herself and her mother.
Themes
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