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Chapter 13
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
Matthew, now living with his sister in Fairbanks, Alaska, spends his time playing hockey and learning to be a pilot. He is an outcast in his new school, and his only support systems are his sister, Alyeska, and Leni. One day after hocky practice, Matthew comes home and tells Alyeska that he wants to finish his senior year in Kaneq. He feels bad that his sister has been forced to sacrifice her dreams to comfort him, and he misses Leni. Alyeska warns him that Kaneq may remind him too much of his mother’s death, but Matthew responds by saying that he already thinks about it all the time anyway. Ultimately, they conclude that Matthew should return to Kaneq after hockey season.
Matthew’s experience in Fairbanks is similar to Leni’s experience at other schools, allowing them to relate to one another even more than they already do. However, Matthew’s life is largely normal; he goes to school, plays hockey, and lives with his sister. Nonetheless, the trauma of losing his mother still haunts him, regardless of whether he lives in Kaneq.
Themes
Just two weeks later, Matthew flies a float plane to the Walker estate. His father is there to greet him. Tensions have been high between Tom and Matthew because Matthew thinks his father blames him for his mother’s death. However, they have a touching reunion and Tom assures his son that Geneva’s death was no one’s fault.
Matthew still carries guilt about his mother’s death, and when he learns that his father does not blame him, it is a huge weight off of his shoulders. Although Matthew still grieves for his mother, this passage is a major step toward acceptance and moving on.
Themes
In the meantime, Ernt’s anger toward Tom continues to build. Leni worries that her father will do something bad soon. While contemplating the situation, Leni spots Matthew driving a skiff up to their spot on the shore. The first thing that Leni notices is how different Matthew looks; she finds him incredibly handsome and worries that she is not properly groomed for their reunion and that she doesn’t know what to say. However, Matthew quickly breaks the tension by handing her a gift, which turns out to be a new camera. Leni is overjoyed; she knows that her friendship with Matthew will cause trouble, but in the moment she doesn’t care.
In sharp contrast to the touching reunion between Matthew and Tom is Ernt’s anger; he cannot get over anything that upsets him and his behavior continues to worsen. Though Leni would love to act like a normal teenager—and potentially begin a romantic relationship with Matthew—she knows that will lead to more trouble with Ernt. Ernt’s thinking is tribal in nature; Matthew has the last name Walker and therefore he is unlikely to approve of Matthew and Leni’s relationship.
Themes
Leni spends the following school day distracted, thinking about Matthew’s return. After school, the two of them walk together and Leni finds out that Matthew knows what Ernt did to the saloon. Leni is ashamed of her father’s actions but doesn’t say anything. Mathew and Leni walk into Marge’s store and Marge warns them about being seen together. This worries Leni even more and she apologizes to Matthew for the way things are. Matthew tells her there is no need for an apology.
Unlike Ernt, Matthew does not blame Leni for her father’s actions. He knows about the dynamic between Ernt and Tom but chooses to be friends with Leni anyway. However, even Marge knows that their friendship will cause problems. Whenever multiple characters express the same concern in The Great Alone, it always proves to be well-founded.
Themes
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Leni and Matthew walk home together, eventually arriving at the Walker estate. Leni immediately notices that Tom is building something new and asks Matthew what it is. Matthew reveals that Tom is constructing Walker Cove Adventure Lodge, which will be for tourists. Leni worries about how her father will react when he finds out. She is also concerned that Matthew is not taking Ernt seriously enough. She warns Matthew that Ernt might try to hurt him if he finds out that they are friends.
Although Ernt overreacted during Tom’s town meeting, his concerns do prove to be legitimate. Tom does not stop at renovating the saloon and is now actively courting the attention of tourists. Though Tom is within his rights to do so, this is an instance where Ernt’s fears aren’t entirely driven by paranoia—tourists could flow into the area and change the community for the worse. Additionally, Leni is right to worry about Matthew’s dismissal of her father’s feelings. Time and time again, people in Kaneq underestimate what Ernt is capable of, usually to the detriment of Cora and Leni.
Themes
