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Chapter 10: December 25, 2000
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in We Need to Talk About Kevin, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Guilt and Accountability
Marriage, Family, and Social Norms
Nature vs. Nurture
Idealism vs. Reality
Forgiveness and Empathy
Summary
Analysis
When Eva returns from Africa, she tells Kevin (who is now three) and Franklin that she’s going to stop working and stay home with Kevin from now on. The family goes out to eat, and Kevin pours a pile of salt on his food and mocks the server. Eva reprimands Kevin, but Franklin defends him and tells Eva not to be so harsh on the child. Over the meal, Kevin mockingly repeats everything Eva says. She tells him to stop, growing increasingly frustrated, and eventually slaps him. Kevin looks satisfied at first, but after a minute he starts to cry loudly. Franklin tells Eva never to hit Kevin again. Then he announces that he bought a house while Eva was gone. Though she’s initially displeased, she apologizes to Franklin as they leave the restaurant, saying she’s excited about the house. She feels bad for the other diners in the restaurant.
Kevin’s satisfied expression and delayed crying could indicate that he drives Eva to hit him on purpose and that his crying is fake. Certainly, Eva is convinced that Kevin antagonizes her on purpose and that he wants to see her react. Eva could be imagining this—even though Kevin’s behavior is unruly, it’s not atypical for a toddler. Eva apologizes to Franklin and feels bad for the people around them, but she doesn’t express any regret or concern for Kevin. Eva seems to think that slapping Kevin is justified, but it is really physical abuse.
Themes
