Strength

An important theme in this novel is strength. The men in Tristan’s family have traditionally masculine traits and define strength in terms of physical ability. They see strength in terms of boxing achievement. To them, strength is in winning fights in a public arena. Being a good boxer is proving oneself a "man." Nana and his mother on the other hand, see strength as a force that is more rooted in adaptation, openness, and the creative imagination. Tristan has a balance of both physical power and imaginative power. He is strong and likes to punch, but also likes to tell stories and is good at storytelling. He feels a physical connection to words. To him, telling a story is just as physical as boxing. It has a rhythm and a beat and is something that can be felt very acutely. He and his best friend...