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Chapter 32
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Knife of Never Letting Go, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Cost of Violence
Information vs. Knowledge
Bigotry and Misogyny
Humanity’s Connection to Nature
Summary
Analysis
Viola takes Todd to a kitchen to talk. Todd hears music in the distance, and Viola explains that it plays all the time in the settlement, very loud in the center. It’s for the same reason that the pub in Prentisstown played music: to help men keep their Noise private. Viola explains that in this settlement, Carbonel Downs, women can only take care of the children, and they all live in one dormitory where they can’t interfere in men’s business. No one takes Viola seriously when she tries to warn them about the Prentisstown army.
This passage reveals why Jacob has to learn how to milk goats at age four—because the men of this settlement don’t give the women any ability to help out. The society of Carbonel Downs is deeply patriarchal, meaning men are in all the positions of power. The structure of this settlement, where the loud sounds in the middle only benefit the men, shows how deeply their society revolves around centering men and minimizing the role of women in society.
Themes
Todd learns from Viola that they drifted about a day and a half on the river before reaching Carbonel Downs. Viola lied and told the people of this settlement that she and Todd were from Farbranch, not Prentisstown. They’re only about another two days on the river away from Haven. Just then, Jacob comes in, saying Doctor Snow and the elders want to speak with Todd but not Viola.
While the people of Carbonel Downs discriminate against Prentisstown, the two settlements have many similarities, with Carbonel Downs also being suspicious of outsiders and ruled by men. The way that the people of Carbonel Downs ignore Viola contrasts with how Wilf readily trusted Viola and listened to her advice to flee. Wilf might seem simple, but in many ways, he is wiser than anyone in Carbonel Downs.
Themes
Todd follows Jacob, telling Viola that the nice buildings of Carbonel Downs make it seem like paradise compared to other New World settlements, but Viola is more skeptical. As they’re walking, the music blaring from the center of the settlement seems to get louder. They soon realize that actually someone is singing from outside the settlement near the river. Todd can barely believe it, but he thinks the Noise belongs to Ben.
Todd’s limited perspective, combined with the fact that he grew up in the even more male-dominated Prentisstown, hinders him from seeing the flaws of Carbonel Downs that are obvious to Viola. The return of Ben, while joyful for Todd, adds a new complication because Viola has lied to the people of Carbonel Downs, saying Todd was from Farbranch.
Themes
