Big Two-Hearted River (Parts I and II) Themes
Suffering
Nobody knows the troubles Nick’s seen. No, really. We never get to hear about it. We just know that they’re there because Nick seems to be going through a rough period. It’s the little things...
Man and the Natural World
“Big Two-Hearted River” begins with Nick getting off a train in what looks like the middle of nowhere. When a character leaves the hustle and bustle of other people's company and heads for a so...
Rules and Order
Slightly different from Law and Order, Rules and Order in this case refers to the fact that Nick likes things organized, predictable, and controllable. There is no slovenliness in his camp. No sir,...
Change
Change can be good, or it can be bad: we might come out of an experience changed for the worse, or we might undergo a transformation for the better. Okay, so how does this help us understand chang...