Unwind

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2007

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-10

Chapters 11-14

Chapters 15-20

Chapters 21-26

Chapters 27-33

Chapters 34-40

Chapters 41-50

Chapters 51-58

Chapters 59-65

Chapters 66-69

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Themes

One Versus Many

One of the most pressing themes of the novel is the conflict between the one—or the few—and the many. This theme appears throughout the narrative, supported by the motif of loneliness. Connor, Risa, and Lev are abandoned by those who were supposed to take care of them. As Unwinds, they are the “Others,” not part of the general populous. The law that allows them to be unwound was put into place before they were born, meaning the conflict between them and the many is both individual and collective. This reality underscores the trauma they experience, as well as the depth of that trauma as it reaches into all facets of their lives. They are, individually, abandoned by their parents and loved ones, deemed expendable. Collectively, they are part of the Unwound group, sanctioned to die for the “greater good” by their government. Each of the characters must struggle to fight for their own survival by escaping the law and making it to the Graveyard, where the minority Unwinds can live safely until they turn 18. Shusterman enacts a riveting coming-of-age trope that changes the stakes of growing up—these characters must literally grow up or die.

The characters’ struggles makes their victories all the more impressive, especially as the system has left them distrusting of everyone—even themselves at times. Shusterman’s narrative reveals real-world applications in the way teenagers navigate their relationships with those in authority. At times, young adults might feel like they don’t have a voice, a common issue that mirrors the issues Connor, Risa, and Lev face. This theme of the one or few versus the many extends to current issues in school and other social venues—most notably in the form of bullying or peer pressure. At times, growing up can feel isolating, and even loved ones don’t seem to understand what’s going on. The narrative addresses these feelings of loneliness and isolation by highlighting how even those in authority and control don’t always do or know what’s right. And not knowing, as Connor learns, is actually alright. Wisdom and compassion aren’t inherent in age or by following some rulebook blindly. The truth, wisdom, and moral questioning the characters engage in show that the status quo is not always the best status to follow.

At the end of the novel, the other Unwinds in the harvest camp rise up against the guards, against all those who have kept them down. While this uprising is unsuccessful, each of the main characters becomes unwindable—Lev, Connor, and Risa are all safe. Their stories raise questions as well about the value of human life and who gets decide which lives are spared and which are unwound, and why.

What Is Morality?

Throughout the novel, Shusterman tasks his audience to consider what is moral and whether the prevailing system of morality—which includes Unwinding—is right or acceptable. As history has shown, humankind has stooped to tragic lows when the populous failed to question the morality of actions, including the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide. Just because a government implements or sanctions violence, it doesn’t make that violence moral. Risa, Lev, and Connor are character types that ask readers to not only see life through their eyes but view the effects of immorality as it attempts to destroy their lives.

Risa looks at the implications of the system of Unwinding as follows: On the one hand, should children be brought into a world when unwanted children already exist? On the other hand, just because children are unwanted, does that make it okay to deny them life? She notes that, on different days, she has different answers. Risa’s questioning covers the hot-button topic of abortion, as does the novel as a whole. What is life? When does life begin? Who determines what life is? These are current questions/issues that the characters in the novel must deal with.

While headed toward the Graveyard, Connor’s companions discuss life and the morality of Unwinding as well. Hayden gives the best answer of all, saying he doesn’t know when life begins. Connor suggests it is the best answer because few people have the strength to admit they don’t know. The novel never provides an answer to what is moral, but Sonia’s words to Connor sum up the issue of morality nicely—no one is all good or all bad. As such, the characters attempt to do good from a moral standpoint by helping both themselves and those like them.

Inner Versus Outer Strength

Inner versus outer strength also appears in the narrative as mental versus physical strength. Connor manages to escape the cops early on because of his physical strength. He runs away, tackles a cop, and ultimately subdues the cop with the cop’s own tranquilizer gun. In this example, Connor’s physical strength symbolizes his inner strength. He’s resolved to live, and so he does what he must to get away from the cop. If Connor allowed the overwhelming stress of his situation to hinder his movements or cast doubt on his possible escape, he’d have no inner strength—he’d be unwound and counted as just another statistic. Though his physical strength here is an asset, Risa later teaches him to use his inner strength in another way. By equating inner strength to both charisma and intelligence (instead of just equating it to a general drive to stay alive), Risa teaches Connor how to not only have a cool head but how to read other people. This gives Connor a new type of power, one that he can use in his arsenal to not only further his growth as an individual but one that can help others grow (he can show others that Roland is manipulating them, for instance).

It is the opposition between inner strength and physical or outer strength that defines Connor and Roland’s rivalry. Connor keeps a cool head, which aggravates Roland. In the end, Roland, who is stronger than Connor, fails to kill Connor, arguably because his inner strength is somehow lacking in some way. Roland talks a big talk but he also knows that Connor is a better person (Connor is the legendary Akron AWOL, and he cares about the other Unwounds, while Roland thinks only of himself). Connor shows major growth near the end of the narrative as well when, with his newfound, mature inner strength, he determines to die with dignity. He therefore walks to his own unwinding, chest forward, and head high, as an example of inner strength those who watch him.