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35. A Tent of Pain
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Out of the Dust, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Nature, Survival, and the Dust Bowl
Poverty, Charity, and Community
Coming of Age
Family and Forgiveness
Summary
Analysis
Billie Jo’s father finds the money her mother was saving, which he uses to get drunk. He leaves Billie Jo and her mother to go drinking and spends every penny they have. While he is gone, Billie Jo’s mother moans and begs for water, which Billie Jo tries to give her. However, she repeatedly misses her mother’s mouth and brings her more pain instead.
Billie Jo’s father is melting down, though his behavior makes life harder for the two people he loves the most. In trying to help her mother, Billie Jo only brings her more pain because even the delicate touch of water hurts her burned skin.
Themes
