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Chapter 34
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in This Tender Land, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Family, Community, and Home
Hardship, Injustice, and Compassion
God, Fate, and Choice
Coming of Age and Personal Growth
Storytelling, Music, and Hope
Acceptance and Forgiveness
Summary
Analysis
The group spends two days on the island while Albert heals. Sister Eve has given them $50, so Odie and Mose buy food and fishing bait in town. Emmy is in the newspaper again, in an article about a new law that makes kidnapping a capital crime. When Emmy is out of earshot, the boys discuss the death penalty and why the Brickmans haven’t named them. Albert shows them a ledger book from Mr. Brickman’s safe, which seems to be a record of bribes to Lincoln officials, including Sheriff Warford. He suggests the adults would rather kill them quietly to avoid scandal. Mose fishes while Emmy and Odie explore, pretending to be vagabonds. As they are playing, Odie falls down beside a skeleton and screams.
On the run again, the risk of being found by the Brickmans puts everyone on edge, especially with the new kidnapping law in place. Albert’s theory that the Brickmans would rather kill them quietly than draw attention to their bribery and other crimes highlights another instance of authorities abusing their power for personal gain.
Themes
