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Chapter 36
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
They travel farther down the river. Albert’s spirits are improving, but Mose’s mood is uncharacteristically dark. While discussing how long it will take to reach Saint Louis, Odie asks Mose what he’d rather be doing. Mose responds, “Tracking down my mother’s killer.” When they camp, Odie catches a large walleye for dinner. They can see city lights and guess they are near Mankato. Albert plans to set out tomorrow afternoon. That way, it’s less likely anyone will see them passing through. The next morning, blackflies descend on the remains of their meal, irritating everyone. Odie fights with Albert and storms off, wondering if he’s better off on his own.
Despite all that the friends have endured together, here their companionship begins to fray. This illustrates how even the most tight-knit communities experience discord. Albert’s brush with death has made him even more irritable, while the discovery of the skeleton has altered Mose’s personality in alarming ways. By highlighting how the journey is changing the children, the novel explores how each member of this found family is coming of age in their own, individual way.
Themes
After walking a few hours, Odie reaches Mankato, which lies on either side of the river. He sees the downtown district where Sid paid off the people Sister Eve “healed.” He wanders the city’s streets. The noise and bustle overwhelm Odie, making him miss his family. He is about to leave when he sees a crowd of protesters and police officers. A man (Captain Bob Gray) shouts into a megaphone, demanding compensation for veterans of the Great War who cannot afford to feed their families despite their service to the country. The police react with violence, beating the protesters with billy clubs. Odie flees from the chaos, making his way back to the river. But when he reaches their campsite, his family is gone.
In Mankato, Odie witnesses injustices and hardships separate from his own, alluding to the struggles taking place throughout America. The protesters are part of the Bonus Army, a group of veterans and supporters who marched on Washington to demand the bonuses the federal government promised for their service in World War I. Here, the police present another example of people misusing their power to further injustice. The abrupt disappearance of Odie’s family highlights just how much he depended on them and how alone he feels now.
Themes
