Themes Dear Mr Kilmer 395w3i

DEAR MR. KILMER by Anne Schraff

THEMES

THE CHALLENGES OF GROWING UP

 Richard has a little chance of communicating with Pa who is often silent and reserved. Richard can only share a limited amount of his pain and frustration with Angie  Richard is a boy with principles and firm beliefs. He does not give in to the herd mentality or get pressured. Thus he has to face the bullies in his class when he is the only person who signs the card for the Schermers. He also has to face the repercussion of giving up the role of Doughboy to Hannah  Hannah faces challenges of coming from a migrant German family, new to Iowa county though not new to the country. Thus, she has to endure pain of ostracism and rejection by a majority of fearful, unreasonable classmates and country people

LOVE, UNDERSTANDING AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIP  Pa loves his children but is unable to express it or talk about buried pain over the loss of his wife and brother. Often lost in his silence and his thought, this causes ‘some strange barrier’ between him and his children  When Gus tells Pa that he has enlisted to ed the war, his father is shocked and unhappy. It is because Pa actually afraid of losing Gus in the war like his brother.

 After Richard’s poetic tribute to Kilmer is published in the local paper, Pa’s silence is broke. In the end, Richard is able to share his poetry with Pa, and Pa gives him helpful comments. A more normal and happy family relationship built on understanding and communication finally becomes a reality  The Schermer family, in contrast, is a more balanced and happy one. There is joy, laughter, communication, music, singing, books and literature in their home. Richard finds their home an ‘oasis’ after the silence of his own family

HUMANITY AND FRIENDSHIP GIVE US HOPE  Being kind to others when they are facing difficulty reveals the basic goodness of man, and underline our humanity  When the Schermers’ tavern was vandalised, Mrs Hansen asks her class to sign a card of sympathy. The whole class disobeys her, except Richard.  Mrs Hansen is impressed by the humanity and friendship shown by Richard and Hannah. When Hannah wins the role of Lady Liberty, only Richard claps. Their classmates ostracise them. Hannah, like Kilmer, had written on the beautiful dream of a world without war. When she turns down the role, Richard does the same to her.

Where there is prejudice, there is no reason  Prejudice is a way of thinking that drowns out reason. It causes people to become judgemental and unreasonable. Some children will reflect their parents’ prejudice.  Richard is unlike many irrational and biased people in his community. He is logical, sensitive and perceptive. He continues to befriending Hannah and her family despite his family's comments.  The prejudice and hatred extends to Richard because he has become close friends with Hannah. Many students ignore him or make cruel comments behind his back. Those who want to be friendly are not brave enough to go against the others.