Themes
Family
Family is a theme in the book because the Pecks depend on each other for survival. There are several examples in the book where the theme family can be found. One example where family can be found is when Rob is injured and his entire family nurses him back to full health because the Pecks love each other and need each other to survive. Another time the theme family is found when Haven passes away and Rob, his mom, and Aunt Carrie get all morn over Havens death but they know they most go on so they make funeral arrangements so they can take care of Haven. Even when Haven died Rob had to do all of the work on the farm because he loves his dad and wants to keep the farm. |
Friendship
Friendship plays an important theme in the book because not all of the Pecks friends are Shakers but they still treat each other with respect and would do anything for each other. One time when friendship is shown is when Mr. Tanner carries Rob home after he passes out when he was dragged by Apron. In this scene it shows that Mr. Tanner cares about Robert because he carries him all the way home and gives him a baby pig in return for helping Apron give birth. Haven and Rob show their friendship when they go find Mr. Hillman and help him dig up his baby. This shows that Haven and Rob will do anything to help their friends because they both had to get up in the middle of the night and go help him. Rob shows friendship when he helps Mrs. Bascom carry her flower pots and in return she gives Rob some gingersnaps and buttermilk and this shows that are friends because Rob is willing to help her and she repays him with treats. Another example where friendship is shown is when Mr. Tanner takes Rob to Rutlenburg and lets Rob take Pinky to show her and let Rob show his calves. The biggest example of friendship in the novel is when Haven dies and all of his friends show up at his funeral because they cared about him and respected him as a living caring friend. |
Isolation
The theme isolation is at it's strongest when Rob is the saddest. examples of isolation is found when Pinky dies and when Haven dies. Rob is really sad when they have to kill Pinky because that was his only friend and he loved her. He also felt isolated when his dad died because Haven was teaching him about life and how to respond to challenges and when he lost him he was the only one able to take care of the farm and did not have his father's guidance. |
Coming of Age
Rob had to become a man very quickly in the book because he had to kill his pig and had to take over the farm at 13 years of age. In the book Pinky was not able to have a litter so if Rob's dad did not get a deer they would have to kill Pinky. Haven did not get a deer so they had to kill Pinky for food. Rob had to help his dad kill Pinky which was his pet and best friend. At that moment when Rob and Haven were crying Rob realized that Haven did not want to do it but it had to be done. This was part of Rob's process to become a man. Rob becomes a man when his dad dies and he has to create the funeral arrangements and then has to continue to work on the farm so he can provide for his mom and Aunt Carrie. |
Death
The theme death is very important because when Rob encounters he death becomes more of a man from. He becomes more of a man when he sees Pinky die and when Haven dies. Haven and Rob have to kill Pinky because they need the meat so the Peck family can survive winter. When they kill Pinky Rob sobs and sobs but forgives his dad when he sees him crying which makes Rob understand that Haven had to do it but he did not want to. In section Rob saw that event and became more of a man from it. On the other hand Rob becomes more of a man when his dad dies too. On a spring morning Rob goes out to the barn to wake up Haven but he realizes that his dad is dead. So he continues on doing his daily chores because they have to get done. Then he goes and tells his mom and Aunt Carrie that Haven passed away and they have a funeral and Rob has to go and continue to work on the farm. From the death that Rob encountered he became more of a man from it. |
Acceptance
Rob has to come to accept many things in the book. Some of the things that Rob has to accept is just because you are not a Shaker you are a bad person, the killing of Pinky, and becoming of man. At the beginning of the book Rob is prejudice toward Baptist. Until the end of the book Rob finds out that his Aunt Matty and the Tanners are Baptist. Rob changes his feelings about Baptist because his Aunt Matty and the Tanners are really nice people. Rob comes to accept the killing of Pinky because they need the food and some things you have to do even when you do not want to do them. Rob also accepts the role of becoming a man too. When his dad dies he knows what has to get done and he needs to do it to support his family. Accepting all of these complications is essential for Rob and his family to move on in life. |