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69. The Competition
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
Arley invites Billie Jo to play with him during an upcoming show at the school. At first, Billie Jo turns down his request; she knows her father will let her, but her hands still hurt too much from her last performance. Arley encourages her to give it a try anyway. When Billie Jo goes home, she practices the piano. If she is going to play at school, she wants to make sure no one thinks she plays like a “cripple.”
Evidently, the comments from the talent show contestant hurt Billie Jo, as she remains self-conscious about her hands. If she receives praise for her musical abilities, she wants to deserve them. She hates being pitied and wants to ensure that the music she makes matters more to her audience than her hands.
Themes
