An Unforgettable Passage

 Out of all 359 pages of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz,  there was one passage that stood out to me more than any other part of the book. The passage is as follows:

    I don't know why, but I couldn't stop crying. And then I stopped and I knew I was really angry. More angry than I'd ever been in my life. "There were four of them. The other boy ran. But Dante didn't run. Because Dante's like that. He doesn't run."

    I looked at my dad. 

    He didn't say a word.

    My mother had moved closer to me. She couldn't stop combing my hair with her fingers.

    "I'm so ashamed," I whispered. "I wanted to hurt them back."

    "Ari?" My father's voice was soft. "Ari, Ari, Ari. Your fighting this war in the worst possible way."

    "I don't know how to fight it, Dad."

    "You should ask for help," he said.

    "I don't know how to do that, either." (pg. 318-319)


    This passage stood out to me because it shows the battle Ari is having with himself, and that he is truly lost and not sure how to handle it. The last two lines stood out to me the most because I think it is something so many people can relate to, myself included. I personally know that I am terrible at asking for help. I internalize problems that I face and try to get through them myself. I know I should probably ask for help more often, but I also pride myself, in a way, on being able to work through challenges myself. I think I can relate to Ari's final statement from the passage. He doesn't know exactly how to ask for help when he realizes he needs it, and I have felt that way too at time. I'm sure this is a feeling many people have had and can relate too.

    I also think this passage is unique because of the interpersonal battles that Ari's father is facing as a result of his PTSD from the Vietnam war. I think if you reversed their roles in the conversation, the conversation could remain the same. I think Ari's father knows he is fighting his PTSD in a negative way, but he doesn't know how else to fight it. He also knows that he should ask for help, but much like Ari, he does not how to ask. 

    This passage packs a lot of meaning and represents the rest of the story well. I think one of the overall messages from the book is that everyone has secrets of the universe they need to discover and with time, friends, and family everyone can eventually discover their secrets of the universe if they want to.

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