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61. Coven
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
Sometimes, Emoni wonders what her mom would’ve dreamed for Emoni had she not died in childbirth. Emoni is thankful and lucky to have ’Buela, but ’Buela isn’t the sort of guardian to smack a counselor for not encouraging Emoni to apply to a certain school. She takes things in stride. Emoni dreams daily about what Babygirl will be and do, and she whispers these dreams to Babygirl. She promises Babygirl she’ll fight for her. Emoni wants Babygirl to know that her mom might not have been the most powerful or successful, but she did do everything to ensure Babygirl’s success.
Once again, Emoni takes the opportunity to illustrate how many of her own dreams and desires she’s had to put aside to best support Babygirl. Going to Spain, for instance, isn’t as easy as coming up with the money—Emoni has to arrange childcare for her daughter. And as much as Emoni wants to go to Spain and be a chef, what she wants more is for Babygirl to know that she’s loved and supported.
Themes
