Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World Chapter 120 Summary
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Ari finds his mother in her bedroom, going through his recently deceased father’s possessions. She invites Ari to take first choice of the items. After sharing a moment of laughter over a dirty joke, they spend the day sorting memories. Ari selects a range of keepsakes: his father’s mailman and army uniforms, wedding band, funeral flag, a photograph his father took, the letters his parents exchanged during the Vietnam War (with the promise that his sisters may read them), his father’s favorite shirt, dress shoes (matching Ari’s size), last pack of cigarettes, watch, and baby pictures of Ari with his father. His mother then reflects on the bedroom. She considered changing it to avoid memories but decides to stay, purchasing new bed linens instead of fleeing. She reveals that his father once told her to “become yourself” and fall in love again, but she dismisses that advice, stating the only man she ever needed was his father. Ari asks if she excludes him from that category because he is gay; she laughs and clarifies the exclusion is because he is her son, not because of his sexuality. The chapter closes with Ari’s quiet confidence that they will be all right.
Key Events
- Ari discovers his mother sorting his father’s belongings in her bedroom.
- They share a moment of laughter after Ari offers to tell a dirty joke.
- Ari selects a list of meaningful mementos to keep.
- His mother decides to keep the same bedroom but update the bedding.
- She recalls his father’s wish for her to move on, which she rejects.
- Ari asks if she excludes him from potential new love because he is gay; she corrects him, affirming her love as his mother.
Character Development
Aristotle Mendoza – Ari demonstrates emotional maturity and empathy by sitting with his mother and helping her sort the memories. His choice of items, including the letters and the pack of cigarettes, shows a desire to hold onto his father’s essence. His question about being excluded reveals vulnerability regarding his sexual orientation, but his mother’s immediate and affectionate correction reassures him.
Liliana Mendoza – Ari’s mother handles her grief with pragmatic tenderness. She does not shy away from tears but also allows laughter. Her decision to keep the marital bed rather than move rooms symbolizes her refusal to run from loss. Recalling her husband’s advice, she firmly asserts her independence and closure, rejecting the notion of moving on. Her response to Ari’s question—emphasizing that she excludes him because he is her son, not because he is gay—reinforces unconditional maternal love.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Memory and Keepsakes – The physical objects Ari chooses (uniforms, letters, photographs) serve as tangible anchors to his father, preserving history and love.
- Grief and Humor – The dirty joke that sparks laughter demonstrates how families use humor to cope with pain, allowing a moment of lightness amid mourning.
- Letting Go vs. Holding On – His mother’s decision to keep the bed but change the bedding perfectly balances honoring the past while not being trapped by it.
- Identity and Acceptance – Ari’s direct question about his sexuality and his mother’s immediate dismissal of that as a factor underscores that his identity is fully accepted within the family.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the portrait of the Mendoza family’s processing of loss. It shifts the focus from Ari’s personal journey to the familial context of grief. His mother’s strength and wisdom—both in her own refusal to become a “widow” and in her unconditional love for Ari—solidify the emotional foundation that will support Ari going forward. The chapter also reinforces that Ari’s sexual orientation is not a source of division in his home, which is an essential piece of his evolving self-acceptance.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Ari’s mother reject his father’s advice to fall in love again?
She states that his father was the only man she ever needed, and she feels complete with the love they shared. She does not see a need for another partner, but rather she wants to remain true to her own feelings and memories. -
What does his mother’s choice to keep the same bedroom reveal about her?
It reveals her determination to face grief head-on rather than run from it. She wants to stay present with the memories of her husband, showing strength and a refusal to let loss control her life. -
How does the conversation about Ari’s sexuality connect to the theme of parental acceptance?
Ari worries that his being gay might make his mother “exclude” him from her circle of love, but she quickly reframes the exclusion: she does not count him as someone she could fall in love with because he is her son, not because of his orientation. This affirms that his sexuality is irrelevant to her unconditional maternal love.