Previous
105. Last Day
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in With the Fire on High, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age and Teen Parenthood
Creativity vs. Professional Norms
Food and Connection
Caregiving, Independence, and Identity
Support, Community, and Mentorship
Summary
Analysis
Emoni and Pretty Leslie spend their last night with Mariana, who makes a traditional meal and even gives the girls sangria. When Leslie turns green, Emoni laughs. Emoni tries to savor her food rather than pick it apart, and she enjoys the Spanish songs playing from Mariana’s boom box. One song makes Emoni perk up, so Mariana turns up the volume. Mariana explains that this is Mercedes Sosa, an Argentinian folk singer. Closing her eyes, Emoni listens to Mercedes sings about how everything changes—except her love for her home. Mariana says Mercedes was full of duende, or inspiration and passion. Having learned this new word, Emoni feels ready to return home.
Emoni tries to take Chef Amadí’s advice as she eats Mariana’s dinner. As she does this, she learns to empathize more with the people who normally eat her food—she can think about whether the food brings up emotions or memories for her, rather than trying to figure out how the dish came together. Learning the word duende is meaningful for Emoni, as like Mercedes, Emoni is full of “inspiration and passion” for food. Having one word for this quality helps Emoni understand herself and her place in the world better.
Themes
