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Chapter 56
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
The following day, Mr. Lawrence calls to tell Denny that Trish and Maxwell have dropped their custody suit, but requested 48 hours with Zoë before returning her to Denny. Denny agrees to the 48 hours and makes cookies the night before Zoë's return.
Trish and Maxwell aren't all bad either; they're capable of losing graciously. Enzo finally witnesses them as dimensional characters rather than as the Evil Twins.
Themes
As Denny works, the phone rings, and he answers it on speaker. Enzo hears Luca Pantoni's voice. Denny thanks him for calling and tells him that his issues have been resolved, and asks if the position is still available. Luca says it is, and Denny replies that he, Zoë, and Enzo would love to join Luca in Italy. Luca comments on Enzo's name and then tells Denny he'll need a three-year contract. Denny agrees and says that Zoë is very excited.
Enzo is almost certainly named after Enzo Ferrari, the founder of Ferrari. This makes Denny's move to work for Ferrari an even more fortuitous event than the reader was originally led to believe, and it also ties back into Enzo's idea of destiny.
Themes
After a moment of silence, Denny asks Luca why he's made such a generous offer. Luca tells Denny that when his own wife died, he himself almost died from grief, but a mentor helped him. This mentor was Luca's predecessor at Ferrari, and his help saved Luca's life. Luca continues and says that the gift isn't for him to keep—he must pass it on, and he feels fortunate to be able to offer his hand to Denny. Denny thanks him, and Luca welcomes Denny to Ferrari. After they say goodbye, Denny offers Enzo his cookie dough-caked fingers to lick. Denny tells Enzo that sometimes he believes.
The idea of reincarnation is loosely tied in here with the idea of the gift. The opportunity or gift of working with Ferrari is not a gift to be given just once; it must be passed on and allowed to continue for many lives to come. While this explains past events, it also opens the door for future events, as we know now that Denny too must eventually pass on this gift.
Themes
