Jan 1, 2010

Island of the Blue Dolphins | Themes

The main themes of Island of the Blue Dolphins are those naturally associated with the "survival story" or "castaway story." The narrative depicts Karana's mental and emotional reactions to her predicament: initially, the sense of loss — the loss of loved ones, of the security of social structure, of reliable sources of sustenance — and then the steps through which Karana achieves a growing sense of self-reliance, finds ways to replace her missing friends, and acquires a degree of order and community. The need for some kind of community, for relationship, leads the girl to...