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Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Night Watchman, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Power, Solidarity, and Community Action
Oppression and Supposed Good Intentions
Humor and Pain
Sex, Violence, and Gender
Agency and Exploitation
Summary
Analysis
After a week of trying, Zhaanat starts to give milk. Patrice had believed her mother but is still surprised. To try and get Patrice’s attention, Barnes starts to give Pokey gifts, first boxing magazines, and then a brand new red and black checked winter jacket. Patrice tells Pokey that he doesn’t have to give the coat back but that he shouldn’t accept any more gifts either. Patrice has also been having dreams about Vera, where she sees Vera slumped against the wall where Jack had overdosed or hears Vera saying her name. When Patrice talks to her mother about the nightmares, Zhaanat tells her that she’s been having the exact same dreams. Zhaanat says Vera is trying to reach them.
Barnes continues his advances toward Patrice without regard for her feelings or what she’s going through. Patrice and Zhaanat have also been having identical dreams. That’s promising because it seems to suggest that Vera is still alive and she’s trying to reach them, but the dreams can also be disturbing, suggesting that Vera might be in serious danger.
Themes
