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Chapter 61
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Sun is Also a Star, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Immigration and the American Dream
Passion vs. Reason
Interconnectedness and Destiny
Isolation vs. Connection
Summary
Analysis
There's less than two hours before Natasha's appointment and Daniel wants to do norebang, or Korean karaoke. Norebang is done in small rooms instead of in front of a crowd, and Daniel chooses one of the smallest rooms in the establishment next door. Natasha checks her phone. There are no texts from Bev, and she hopes that Bev hasn't forgotten her.
Norebang functions in this instance as a way for Natasha and Daniel to connect on a more intimate level, while karaoke fosters relationships between a much larger group of people. Natasha's worry about Bev suggests she doesn't trust any of her relationships.
Themes
Daniel rings a bell and orders dessert. Natasha loves it, and she realizes that she loves making Daniel happy. He pores over the songbook, and when Natasha tells him to just choose something, he insists that it's important to choose the perfect song. He unbuttons the top button of his shirt, rolls up his sleeves, and takes off his tie. Natasha thinks it feels like watching him fully undress. When he lets his ponytail down, she thinks that he's extremely attractive.
In the privacy of the norebang booth, Natasha has the opportunity to acknowledge her feelings for Daniel in a place that's safe and removed from the horrific realities of her life. This suggests that their romance is in many ways in direct opposition to Natasha's immigration issue.
Themes
Natasha asks Daniel if he's a good singer, and he very seriously tells her that he's fantastic. Natasha doesn't share that she's an awful singer. Daniel finally makes his song selection, "Take a Chance on Me" by ABBA. Natasha can't stop laughing as he mimes the lyrics. He's a very good singer, and Natasha thinks it's sexy. She admires his body and thinks that he's cheering her up in a way she never expected. When his song is over, a score of 99% shows up on the TV screen. Natasha groans that there are grades as Daniel hands her the microphone.
The fact that Daniel can so easily let loose suggests that he's naturally more inclined to try to connect with people, as he simply doesn't experience the same sense of embarrassment that many others do in a situation like this. This shows that Daniel and Natasha are operating on very different comfort levels when it comes to connection.
Themes
