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Chapter 23
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Art of Racing in the Rain, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
What It Means to Be Human
Language and Storytelling
Love and Family
Illness and Death
Destiny and Spirituality
Summary
Analysis
For the first few weeks, Denny visits Eve and Zoë nightly, but by Thanksgiving, he only visits twice per week. Denny gives Enzo positive updates on Eve, but Enzo sees her on the weekends and knows that she isn't getting better and certainly isn't coming home soon. Enzo spends the occasional night with Eve, but she never needs him quite like she did on her first night. Zoë spends every Saturday night with Denny, but never seems very happy.
As time passes, Enzo begins to see Eve's fate in a way that Denny can't. Denny is still optimistic, but Eve and Enzo know that it's hopeless. As she approaches her death, Eve also begins to come into herself and build confidence about facing her death, as evidenced by not needing Enzo like she did before.
Themes
Maxwell and Trish eventually ask to transfer Zoë to a school near their home, since commuting is a burden for them, but Denny refuses. Maxwell counters by offering to pay for private school, but Denny remains firm, and eventually wins the argument.
Money here is a way for Maxwell and Trish to show their love and care for Zoë, and we see that at this point, Denny values Zoë's happiness over her grandparents' desires.
Themes
Occasionally, Denny keeps Zoë overnight during the week and he and Enzo get to walk her to the bus stop. On these mornings, the house is filled with energy and excitement at getting to spend time with Zoë. On some of these mornings, the man who'd spoken to Denny on the first day of school offers to buy them coffee and they go sit at a coffee shop. One day he asks Denny if his wife works, and Denny replies that she’s recovering from brain cancer. After that, the man makes himself busy whenever Denny and Enzo takes Zoë to the bus stop, and they never speak again.
Having these moments that seem almost normal helps Denny maintain his optimism, although we see as well how Eve's illness is capable of coloring these situations. Denny is still looking ahead with optimism, while the other man presumably is made uncomfortable by the situation and doesn't want to become a part of Denny's tragedy.
Themes
