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17. New Things
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
In her essay, Emoni writes that her dad, Julio, only visits her once per year. According to ’Buela, Julio couldn’t handle single parenthood after Emoni’s mom died. He’d been willing to stay in Philadelphia when his wife was alive, but once she died, his “itch” to return to Puerto Rico got worse. ’Buela chose to raise Emoni when Julio handed Emoni over in the hospital and asked her to watch her “for a while.” That turned into 17 years, and it changed Emoni’s life. For most people, it’s probably true that you’re stuck with your family. But Emoni believes everyone makes choices about who they keep in their lives, and she chooses not to dwell on Julio’s shortcomings as a parent. Instead, she focuses on ’Buela’s choice to raise Emoni and give her a chance.
In this passage, Emoni makes it very clear that forgiving Julio for abandoning her as an infant is an active choice she’s made. This may inform some of how she interacts with Tyrone: she’s willing to allow Babygirl to take whatever Tyrone can offer, rather than dwelling too much on Tyrone’s many shortcomings. Indeed, Emoni highlights that as she sees it, what’s most important is celebrating and thanking the people who have stepped up to raise her, namely ’Buela. ’Buela, Emoni understands, didn’t have to raise her granddaughter. But in choosing to parent Emoni, ’Buela gave Emoni a priceless gift of lifelong support.
Themes
