45 pages • 1 hour read
E. L. KonigsburgSilent To The Bone
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2000A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Growing Up
Growing up is the central motif in Silent to the Bone, as best friends Connor and Branwell are both 13 years old and in the midst of experiencing new emotions, experiencing changes in behavior and thought, and maturing both physically and mentally. Because the story is told from Connor’s perspective, much is left unknown until he finds out through communicating with Branwell; an unspoken conflict was developing between the two friends before Branwell was taken away. Branwell stopped hanging out with Connor after school, always wanting to rush home instead, and Connor assumed that it was because Branwell wanted to spend time with Vivian. He remembers how Branwell started talking about Vivian constantly but then suddenly stopped; Connor always believed that it was because Branwell wanted to keep Vivian to himself. He was completely unaware that Branwell stopped talking to Vivian because of her disturbing behavior and also because of a deep sense of shame that he felt about what happened between them. When Connor meets Vivian and gets to light her cigarettes, he finally feels like he has something over Branwell and develops an instant crush on Vivian. As Connor learns more about her, he realizes that she is an abusive and toxic person and loses interest almost immediately. This process of learning and having his first crush helps Connor gain self-awareness and live slightly more cautiously.
Alongside this experience of a first crush, Connor is also forced to mature to help Branwell by putting aside his irritation, exhaustion, and confusion for the sake of his friend. He also has to put aside the jealousy he feels toward Branwell and Vivian at first. Margaret treats Connor like the maturing teenager that he is, giving him independence and allowing him to gain confidence in his ability to navigate life. She notices how helping Branwell is also helping Connor by making him a better listener, a better friend, and a better person: “Somewhere between you and grown-up is adolescence. You’ve done a lot of growing up in the weeks since Branwell was struck dumb. And you’re growing in the right direction” (183). Through Friendship, Family, and Their Unspoken Understandings, Connor enters adolescence with a wider view of himself and the world.
The Flash Cards
The flash cards are a symbol of Friendship, Family, and Their Unspoken Understandings, as well as a demonstration of Silence as a Form of Communication. Each card that Connor creates has its own meaning that is personal to the boys and their friendship and is something that only they understand. Connor writes things like “BLUE PETER” and “DAY CARE,” and Branwell knows exactly what they represent. All the cards are representative of how well Connor knows and understands his friend. Connor gets the idea to create the cards from the author of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, who dictated his memoir using blinks because he could not move or speak. Connor believes that if Branwell cannot speak, he can at least blink and indicate important people for Connor to investigate. For example, Branwell points to the “MARGARET” card, and Connor learns that Margaret understands Branwell’s feelings of loneliness in his family. Connor and Branwell prove that if two people know each other well enough, they do not need to speak to understand one another. Over time, an alphabet is added to the cards, giving Branwell a more precise way to communicate. The “BLUE PETER” card proves particularly significant, as it means “ready” and becomes the card that Branwell uses to announce that he is ready to speak again.
Branwell’s Eyes
Branwell’s eyes are a key symbol of Silence as a Form of Communication and are, for many days, the primary form of communication that Branwell uses to talk to Connor. Connor is required to be extremely observant and attentive, and he picks up on the subtle cues in Branwell’s eyes that others do not. The first time Connor goes to visit Branwell, he is completely shut off from the world. He says nothing and does nothing, and his glasses are covered in smudges, hiding his eyes from Connor and the world. Connor realizes that he has a long road ahead of him, but he doesn’t let it deter him from his goal. The second time Connor visits, Branwell’s eyes are a little more alive and are visible through his now clean glasses. It is a sign of the first small step toward Branwell’s re-entry into the world. Connor decides to communicate with Branwell through his eyes, using flash cards as Branwell blinks twice to tell Connor what he should investigate further. When Connor tells Branwell that Margaret understands what he’s going through, “Branwell ha[s] a less far away look in his eyes” (52). Branwell cries tears of joy in the story’s denouement as
Nikki look[s] up and smile[s] at [him], and the silence suddenly seem[s] musical. And then a sound riff[s] into that silence. It [i]s Branwell. He [i]s crying. His sobs [a]re soft, cushioned by the long way they had come, the long time they had taken to arrive (260).
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By E. L. Konigsburg
