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Rufus, 10:39 a.m.
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in They Both Die at the End, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Mortality, Life, and Meaning
Human Connection and Social Media
Choices and Consequences
Friendship and Chosen Family
Business, Ethics, and Dehumanization
Summary
Analysis
Mateo isn’t on the mountain anymore—he’s on the train. He tells Rufus that he was skiing in the dream, but he lost his poles and a boulder chased him. He saw his Lego sanctuary, but it was huge. Mateo flew off the mountain as headless birds circled above him. Rufus grins, but he shifts closer and assures Mateo that boulders won’t chase him. Mateo thinks it’s awful that this was his last dream ever.
Even if Mateo is getting to experience a lot of meaningful things, this is still life—not everything is going to be perfect. However unfortunate it is that his last dream was a nightmare, Mateo has the choice to either focus on these bad moments or focus on the fact that he’s out with a friend who cares for him and whom Mateo trusts.
Themes
