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Chapter 5
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Unwind, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Inequality, Injustice, and the Law
Anger, Violence, and Radicalization
Activism, Compassion, and Atonement
Morality and Perspective
Summary
Analysis
Lev wakes up, remembers that he was kidnapped, and flashes on Pastor Dan telling him to run. It doesn’t make sense; Pastor Dan wouldn’t do that. He opens his eyes and sees Connor and Risa sitting by a fire. Lev struggles against the residual tranquilizer and vines securing him, and he jumps when Risa says that at least Lev is safe. Lev believes that his kidnappers want to lull him into a false sense of security and wonders again what Pastor Dan meant. He asks what Connor set his ransom for. Confused, Connor says he saved Lev’s life. Lev decides to not explain to these people that tithing is the ultimate blessing. He bites back his anger and revulsion and thanks them for saving him. He’ll get revenge later.
As far as Lev is concerned, Connor took away his very reason for living by “saving” him from his tithing, hence Lev’s anger and desire for revenge. While given Lev’s upbringing this anger makes sense, it’s also telling that Lev’s thoughts go straight to getting revenge, something destructive and negative. In this way, the novel begins to lay the groundwork for Lev’s tendency toward radicalism and violence, as it shows that when Lev is angry, he turns first to making others hurt too.
Themes
