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Chapter 12
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Great Alone, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Trauma and Violence
Paranoia and the Vietnam War
Isolation
Family and Community
Death and Grief
Coming of Age
Summary
Analysis
Ernt spends the next day fuming and talking to the Harlan family about how Tom is going to ruin Kaneq. He believes any attempts to modernize Kaneq will eventually make it just like the continental United States, which is exactly what he moved there to escape. Although Thelma, Leni, and Cora think he is overreacting, the Harlan men all rally around Ernt. Thelma warns Cora, “Your husband’s going to rip this town apart if we aren’t careful.”
Leni is immediately proved right about Ernt’s inability to let anything go. Though the Harlan men commiserate with Ernt, they regularly prove to be all talk and no action. After all, they’ve dealt with Tom for decades. However, Thelma knows that Ernt is in a different category; he means what he says, and could destroy the town if he’s not reigned in.
Themes
After spending the day at the Harlans’, Leni drives her parents home, as they are both too drunk to do it themselves. She lays in bed, worried about what her father might do. She also thinks about her favorite letters from Matthew. The two of them still communicate as often as possible, and Leni treasures their relationship. Eventually, Leni turns to a book for comfort. While reading, Leni notices her father get up and leave with a gear bag and an ax.
Leni once again proves that she’s the most mature member of the Allbright family as she drives her drunk parents home. When she arrives at the cabin, Leni has only words to comfort her; she feels alone without Matthew and has only her letters and books to keep her company. Meanwhile, Ernt’s sudden departure is alarming, but Leni is powerless to do anything about it.
Themes
The next morning Ernt is in a good mood, to everyone’s relief. Later in the day, the Allbrights drive into town for the Salmon Days, a community festival. When they arrive, Leni notices that the saloon has been vandalized and spraypainted with graffiti reading, “THIS IS A WARNING. STAY AWAY. ARROGANT PRICK. NO PROGRESS.” As soon as Tom catches sight of Ernt, he immediately confronts him. Tom knows that Ernt is responsible, as does Leni. Only Cora is willing to defend him. Tom tells Ernt that if he does anything further, Tom will come for him. Leni is concerned, though Tom tells her not to worry. At this point, Leni knows better than to think that her father will let anything go.
The warning Ernt spray-paints on the saloon may as well be self-referential. Though “no progress” refers to Ernt’s displeasure over modernization, it also says a lot about who Ernt is as a person, and the direction in which his character is going. As Leni knows, even if Cora is blind to it, Ernt hasn’t made any progress since arriving in Kaneq. Instead, he’s gotten worse.
Themes
The following day, Leni is working at Marge’s store, something she has done for the past year. She expresses her concerns to Marge, though, like Tom, Marge tells her that everything will be fine. Leni still isn’t convinced. Later in the week, the Allbrights go to the Harlan house for a barbecue. Ernt and the Harlan men spend their time complaining about Tom. Before long, Tom pulls up in his car and tells the men that he is recruiting workers for the upcoming renovations. He offers good pay and several of the Harlan men take the job, much to Ernt’s dismay. Tom clearly views this as a win over Ernt, but as Leni drives home, she worries about how the situation could escalate.
Leni continues to be the only person in Kaneq who knows what her father is capable of. Although Tom wins a victory over Ernt by recruiting the Harlan men to his project, he does nothing to contain Ernt’s rage; in fact, he only causes it to increase. Not only could this have negative ramifications for the town, but it could also lead to more abuse directed towards Cora and Leni.
Themes
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