Long Way Down Themes and Symbols

Long Way Down

"Long Way Down" by Jason Reynolds is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of grief, toxic masculinity, and the cycle of violence in a community trapped in a cycle of pain and loss.

Themes

A Cycle of Violence

The cycle of violence is the most prominent theme in the novel. It is an unbroken chain that weighs heavily on Will, who has been affected by it and must decide whether to further it himself. The rules passed down for so long require each murder to lead to another, perpetuating a cycle of violence.

Truth

The novel also explores the concept of truth. The book begins with the statement, "Don't nobody believe nothing these days". This sets the tone for the story, which requires a suspension of disbelief given the events that unfold over a single minute and involve ghosts. The story raises questions about the reality of what has happened and the truth behind the events.

Grief

Grief is another major theme in the novel. The loss of a loved one and the struggle to come to terms with that loss are central to the story. Will's grief is palpable, and the book illustrates how the loss of a loved one can feel like a part of oneself has been taken away.

Symbolism

The Rules

The Rules are a symbol of both masculinity and survival in the novel. They are simple: no crying, no snitching, and always seek revenge. The Rules symbolize the toxic masculinity that encourages men to manage grief with violence, but they also arose from decades of trying to survive in a world of random and accidental violence.

The Elevator

The elevator is a symbol of the place between life and death where Will can learn about himself, his family, and the nature of grief. As soon as Will enters the elevator, The Rules change, and time moves slowly, suggesting that this liminal place between life and death brings Will closer to the truths he's unable to see when he is merely among the living.

The Middle Drawer

The middle drawer is a symbol of the secrets that Shawn kept, the emotions he kept locked up, and the pent-up violence that characterizes his community. When Will looks around his brother's side of the room, he sees that the only thing out of place is the middle drawer of his dresser, which houses the gun that Will later learns Shawn used to kill Frick. The middle drawer gestures to the fact that there was something wrong with the drawer's existence, illustrating the trappings of their community's Rules.

Characters

The main character, Will, is a teenager who has been affected by the cycle of violence in his community. He must decide whether to further the cycle of violence by following the rules or to break free from it. Other characters include Shawn, Will's brother who was killed, and Riggs, the person Will believes killed his brother. The novel also features ghosts, who guide Will and help him to see things from a different perspective.