Friendship

Throughout her novel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Zevin thematically inspects friendship through the relationship between Sadie and Sam. In “Sick Kids”, Sadie tells Sam, “Promise me, that no matter what happens, no matter what dumb thing we supposedly perpetrate on each other, we won’t ever go six years without talking to each other. Promise me you’ll always forgive me, and I promise I’ll always forgive you” (59). She wants to ensure that their relationship will not rupture again. However, the narrator notes that “these of course are the kinds of vows young people feel comfortable making when they have no idea what life has in store for them:” (59). The author creates the abrasion between the dialogue and the narrative voice in order to demonstrate that friendship is mutable and shifts with time. The characters are confident that they will continue to be friends...