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Mateo, 5:48 p.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
At first, Rufus that Aimee brought Peck, but she stands between Peck and Rufus. He knows he can’t be a hero, but he can’t make peace with this. Aimee begs for Peck to stop, and she points out that this will end his life too, but Peck is incensed. Aimee says that she’ll never care about Peck again if he shoots Rufus, and Rufus vows to haunt Aimee and Peck if they get back together. Mateo sneaks up behind Peck and punches him in the face, which gives Rufus a chance. One of Peck’s friends starts to swing at Mateo, but he stops and seems to recognize Mateo. Malcolm body-slams Peck, sending him flying, and Rufus picks up the gun and points it at Peck. He knows he can end this, but he shoots at the wall instead. He grabs Mateo and they run.
Once Rufus has ahold of the gun, he has to make the defining choice of whether or not to shoot Peck. Because Rufus has found Mateo, gotten to see his friends, and has learned that his life has meaning, he knows that shooting Peck isn’t how he wants to go out. Choosing to run away with Mateo instead suggests Rufus will care for others instead of being violent when given the choice. Peck will have to live with his choice to threaten Rufus at gunpoint—but Rufus won’t have to live with the guilt of taking another’s life.
Themes
