The Great Alone Themes

Trauma and Violence

Domestic violence is ever-present in the brutal world of The Great Alone. Ernt, a disgruntled Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war, regularly takes his anger out on his wife Cora. Although Cora constantly makes excuses for her husband’s behavior, she eventually reaches her breaking point when he turns his violent wrath on their daughter, Leni. As Ernt beats Leni with a belt, Cora shoots him twice in the back and…

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Paranoia and the Vietnam War

The Great Alone takes place in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, an event that starkly divided America, and Leni’s parents stand on different sides of that divide. Ernt went off to war despite Cora’s protests; he regards himself as a patriot and wants to protect the nation he loves. While Ernt is away, Cora lives with Leni in a number of hippie communes and protests the war. Upon returning from Vietnam, Ernt is a…

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Isolation

From the title alone, it is clear that The Great Alone explores the concept of isolation. Isolation is relevant in a literal sense throughout the novel (many of its characters live in the middle of nowhere), and in a metaphorical sense, as several characters feel alone and cut off from society. Leni’s sense of isolation grows throughout the novel as Ernt progressively alienates the Allbrights from the greater Kaneq community. First and foremost, Leni feels…

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Family and Community

Throughout Leni’s years in Kaneq, Alaska, the lines between family and community become blurred, as she begins to fear the former and yearn for the latter. Upon first arriving in Kaneq, Leni, Cora, and Ernt are all happy to be part of a community, albeit a small one. Leni manages to make a friend in school—Matthew—while Ernt and Cora bond with the Harlan family. Before long, however, Leni and Cora begin to…

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Death and Grief

Death is a near constant in the harsh world of The Great Alone. One statistic, mentioned several times over the course of the novel, says that five out of every 1000 people go missing in Alaska. In Kaneq, more than anywhere Leni has ever lived, death is a key part of life; animals are regularly killed for food, Geneva Walker freezes in the icy water, and Cora is forced to shoot Ernt when he…

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Coming of Age

The Great Alone tracks the maturation of a young girl in extraordinary circumstances. From the age of 13, Leni is asked to participate in an extreme lifestyle. Much of Alaskan life is spent preparing for the future and those who do not prepare end up dead. Among other things, Leni learns to hunt, fish, and garden. These activities are not merely hobbies, but rather necessary means of staying alive. In addition to learning to live…

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