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58. Emilia
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Salt to the Sea, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Agency, Willpower, and Fate
Storytelling and Fantasy
Memory and Survival
Family and Community vs. Selfishness
Summary
Analysis
It takes several hours for the group to cross the ice. Once on land again, Joana lashes out at Florian. She argues that, if not for him, she could have saved Ingrid. He argues that she would have died from the shock of the icy water, even if she could be pulled out.
Joana ones again must deal with survivor’s guilt which stems from the fact that she lived while Ingrid died. Florian argues that she should be happy that she’s alive, since she likely would have been unable to save Ingrid and, had she gotten closer to the hole in the ice, both women would have died.
Themes
The Poet stops the arguing by saying that Florian saved Joana, and also Emilia, who had begun to scramble towards Ingrid as well. Eva, meanwhile, was the only one who made no effort to save anyone.
All the refugees, Florian included, care about each other’s wellbeing. Eva, however, remains selfish, caring only about her own survival.
Themes
