💡Theme: Identity Flashcards
“Because he’s dark brown and I’m light brown.” Jake has “dusty blue” and “blonde hair” (Ch. 1)
From the exposition of the text, Leon points out the physical differences between himself and his brother. Despite Leon being mixed race, he observes that they have similar eyebrows and fingers as a way of linking them together. Throughout the text, Leon seems to find his relationship with Jake crucial to his identity, “I’m your big brother.” This brotherly bond highlights how Leon feels that being a brother and part of a family it’s important, making his separation and familial difficulty throughout the book poignant for the reader.
Links to motif of Dukes of hazard, about 2 close brothers, comedy to dhow, symbolic of a fraternal bond
“He will look after Carol and Jake, he will make her some tea and toast, and help her sit up and take her tablets, and he will put a clean sheet in her bed and he will pretend.” (Ch. 5)
The anaphoric listing of will highlights Leon’s determination to look after his family. Responsibility is a key theme in My Name Is Leon that is indicative of how he views protecting and caring for his family a part of his identity, a result of the amount of responsibly and length of time Carol neglected him for.
‘Everyone steals from me.’
LEON, STEALING. The motif of stealing runs through the novel, as Leon gathers more things for his ‘collection’. However, during his outburst to Tufty and Devlin in the shed, we realise why Leon steals; he feels like everything he loves has been stolen from him (Jake, his childhood toys), and that he therefore needs to steal to survive.
‘[The allotments are] better than a park because everyone has their own bit of land to look after and they can do what they like with it.’
HAPPINESS, LEON. The setting of the allotments represents happiness for Leon- he likes being responsible and looking after things, and at the allotments he can help nurture the plants and make them grow as a replacement for looking after Jake. The allotments are full of diverse and multicultural people, bonded by a common purpose. Rookery Road Allotments also symbolizes Leon’s growing desire for independence, freedom, and a permanent home where he belongs.
