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Zoë's Zebra, the Demon
Senna is Enzo's favorite driver, who died tragically and mysteriously during a race in 1995. Enzo says that Senna was charismatic and daring, and Senna is often conflated with Denny. Both Senna and Denny are exceptional drivers in the rain, which speaks to their intellectual capabilities and unflappable attitudes. Despite this conflation with Denny, however, Enzo remarks that he himself is often more like Senna than Denny is, as Enzo wants to be more spontaneous and carefree than Denny often is willing to be. Senna provides Enzo with something to idolize and look up to and is a huge player in Enzo's conception of spirituality, as he acts like a positive counterpoint for the evil of the zebra. Senna's persona also informs Enzo's idea of what he'd like to be when he's finally human.
Ayrton Senna Quotes in The Art of Racing in the Rain
The The Art of Racing in the Rain quotes below all refer to the symbol of Ayrton Senna. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 1
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After the 1993 Grand Prix, the best thing I've ever seen on TV is a documentary that explained everything to me, made it all clear, told the whole truth: when a dog is finished living his lifetimes as a dog, his next incarnation will be as a man.
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Chapter 30
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Racing is about discipline and intelligence, not about who has the heavier foot. The one who drives smart will always win in the end.
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Chapter 47
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He died that day because his body had served its purpose. His soul had done what it came to do, learned what it came to learn, and then was free to leave. And I knew, as Denny sped me toward the doctor who would fix me, that if I had already accomplished what I set out to accomplish here on earth, if I had already learned what I was meant to learn, I would have left the curb one second later than I had, and I would have been killed instantly by that car.
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Chapter 49
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When it rained, it never rained on Senna.
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Get the entire Racing in the Rain LitChart as a printable PDF.
Ayrton Senna Symbol Timeline in The Art of Racing in the Rain
The timeline below shows where the symbol Ayrton Senna appears in The Art of Racing in the Rain. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...saw on television, he says, was the 1993 Grand Prix of Europe, in which Ayrton Senna drove like a genius in the rain. Enzo continues, saying that he's always felt almost...
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...affect him at all, just like the 1993 Grand Prix of Europe, in which Ayrton Senna passed four champion cars on the first lap like he was magic.
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Enzo says that Denny is as good as Senna, but nobody notices Denny because he has responsibilities: his daughter, Zoë, and Enzo, and until...
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Chapter 25
...driver, but not a fan favorite because he's remote and unapproachable, unlike the charismatic Ayrton Senna. Similarly, nobody applauds the sun just for rising, since it hasn't overcome adversity to do...
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Chapter 38
...drivers, who never took unnecessary risks. Enzo, in contrast, says he'd like to be like Senna and pack their things, pick up Zoë unannounced from school, and escape to Canada.
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Chapter 47
...car on the way to the vet that night, it occurs to him that Ayrton Senna didn't have to die; he could've walked away. He tells the reader that the day...
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In the extremely dangerous Tamburello corner, Senna's car left the track at 190mph and he was killed instantly when suspension pierced his...
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Chapter 49
...on one of Enzo's favorite races, the 1984 Grand Prix of Monaco, in which Ayrton Senna drives in the rain. Enzo tells the reader that Senna would've won, but they canceled...
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Chapter 58
...Denny will experience success on the track and become a Formula One driver like Ayrton Senna. Enzo says he'd like to see this happen, but his soul has learned what it...
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Imola, Italy
...man thanks Denny profusely and tells him that Enzo says that Denny is better than Senna. Denny ruffles the boy's hair and says he's a racer at heart. Enzo says, in...
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