Drown Themes

Drown Themes

Poverty is degrading

Throughout the book, the reality that there is nothing fun about being poor is continually demonstrated. In Dominica, Papi evades the toll-taker on the toll roads, teaching his children to cheat, because he is poor, although he is not too poor to get drunk or buy things for his mistress. The children steal and cheat to get things they want while in Dominica, and they suffer the humiliation of being ostracized at school because of their poverty. They have ragged, ugly clothing even at a time when they want to be stylish.

Eventually they turn to violence, drugs, and thievery to get what they want. The kids make no excuses for this.

Later, in America, Yunior steals regularly from the mall. He knows it is bad, but it is the only way he can get nice things to give to his girlfriend. He deals drugs and uses much of the...
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