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Chapter 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Growing Up
Adventure, Mystery, and Secrets
Family
Independence, Capability, and Creativity
Art, Beauty, and Wonder
Summary
Analysis
On Tuesday night, Jamie finds a list of instructions under his pillow. The first instruction is to forget about his homework; he should get ready for the trip instead. (Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler admires Claudia’s attention to detail; it’s nearly as good as her own.) She even tells Jamie to hide his trumpet by rolling it up in a blanket. After he’s followed all the instructions, Jamie gets a glass of water and begins eating the list. But the ink turns his teeth blue, so he gives up, throws it away, and brushes his teeth.
Claudia begins putting her detailed plan into action. Mrs. Frankweiler often adds parenthetical remarks for Saxonberg’s benefit, in this case paying Claudia a compliment by comparing Claudia’s planning ability to her own. Indeed, Claudia seems to have thought of everything. Jamie, by contrast, doesn’t always consider the consequences of his actions.
Themes
The next morning, Claudia and Jamie get on the school bus and sit together at the back. After all the other kids have gotten off, Jamie and Claudia huddle in the seats, pulling their feet up so that the driver, Herbert, won’t see them. They hold their breaths as they wait for the bus to empty. When they hear the motor starting up again, they smile at each other. They know Herbert will park the bus in the lot on the Boston Post Road. On the way, the empty bus bounces noisily. Claudia is glad, since her heart is pounding so loudly she’s afraid Herbert would otherwise hear it.
The kids pull off the first part of their plan successfully, bypassing school and taking a first step toward running away from Greenwich. The Boston Post Road is an older name for a main route between New York and Boston, so when the bus parks there, the kids are probably right in the middle of town, an ideal departure point. Claudia has planned well, but she’s also aware that they’re taking a big risk and breaking rules by trying to run away—hence her nervousness.
Themes
After Herbert parks and gets off the bus, Claudia and Jamie wait for just over seven minutes before they dare to look up. When they do, they’re both grinning. Herbert is nowhere in sight, so they slowly get off the bus. Jamie’s pockets are so full of $24.43 in coins that he clanks loudly when he moves. And his pants are almost falling down because he’s carrying his compass, too.
Claudia and Jamie give themselves wide margins of time so that they don’t accidentally get caught by moving too hastily. Again, this shows Claudia’s thoughtfulness; she’s still a kid, but she’s capable of managing logistics maturely. Jamie is doing his part, too, though it comes across more comically.
Themes
Jamie tells Claudia they’ll need the compass for hiding out in the woods. He and Claudia get into an argument about Jamie’s grammar, but Claudia gets control of herself—as a leader, she needs to stay calm, even if she’s leading a brat—and explains that they’re not going to be hiding in the woods. They’re going to hide in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Jamie is disappointed that they’re going to take the train to New York instead of hitchhiking; he thinks this is a “sissy” plan. Forgetting to keep quiet, the two start quarreling again as they exit the bus, yet nobody seems to hear them.
Like many siblings, Jamie and Claudia often squabble, and some of their arguments are prompted by Claudia’s habit of correcting her brother. As Claudia reveals more details of the plan to Jamie, they also argue over Claudia’s outlook on running away—namely, that the experience should be as comfortable as possible. Jamie, who prefers open-ended adventure to set plans, considers this approach weak. It seems likely that their differences will lead to further clashes.
Themes
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As they walk to the train station, Claudia stops to mail two letters. She tells Jamie the first letter was a note telling their parents that they’re running away and not to call the FBI. The second letter was two cereal box tops; if you mail in box tops with stars on them, she explains, you’ll get 25 cents.
This is a spot where Claudia’s careful planning nevertheless shows how childish she can be—of course, their parents wouldn’t be reassured by a note like this. Claudia’s cereal box tops also show that she’s planning on returning home before too long, suggesting that her home life can’t really be that bad.
Themes
They arrive at the Greenwich train station in time to catch the 10:42 local train, which is relatively empty. During the ride, Jamie tries to convince Claudia that they should hide in Central Park instead. After she appoints him treasurer, Jamie decides that the Metropolitan will be adventurous enough. By this time, Claudia decides she doesn’t regret having brought Jamie along, and not just because he has money and a transistor radio. She thinks “Manhattan [calls] for the courage of at least two Kincaids.”
Claudia is a shrewd leader: she understands how to get Jamie on her side through flattery. At the same time, she’s starting to genuinely appreciate her brother’s presence. Running away to a big city is risky and scary, and she’s realizing it can be nice to have a family member along for support, even if that person can be annoying sometimes.
Themes
