Chapter 86: Sadness, College Plans, and a Kiss
⚠️ 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 is staring at the painting Emma gave them while Dante reads a poem aloud. Ari gets lost in Dante’s voice rather than the words. After finishing, Dante asks if everyone inevitably ends up sad. Ari doesn’t respond. Dante puts the poem away and Ari notices college applications on the desk. Dante mentions applying to Oberlin College and an arts summer program in Paris; Ari says he is applying to UT Austin. Both feel the weight of their upcoming separation. To escape the sadness, Dante brings up The Raft of the Medusa, claiming it is his favorite painting—knowing it is also Ari’s. They tease each other, laugh, and kiss, dissolving the gloom.
Key Events
- Ari watches Dante read a poem and becomes absorbed in his voice.
- Dante voices his fear that life leads only to sadness.
- The conversation turns to college plans: Dante is looking at Oberlin and a Paris program; Ari will attend UT. They acknowledge they will be apart.
- Dante changes the subject to The Raft of the Medusa.
- They playfully argue over whose favorite painting it is.
- The argument turns into laughter and then a kiss, ending the sadness.
Character Development
- Aristotle Mendoza: Ari is still learning to sit with difficult emotions. He does not speak when Dante asks about sadness, but he listens. He also faces the practical reality of college without defensiveness. The kiss shows he has grown comfortable initiating physical affection as a response to emotional tension.
- Dante Quintana: Dante’s question about sadness reveals his vulnerability and fear of loneliness. He uses art and humor to deflect heavy feelings, but this time his deflection works to reconnect them. His willingness to change the subject shows an adaptive emotional strategy.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Separation and Uncertainty: The college applications are a literal reminder that their futures are not aligned. Both characters feel the sadness of an inevitable distance.
- Art and Connection: The painting and poem serve as props that bring them together. Discussing The Raft of the Medusa becomes a shared language that replaces sorrow with intimacy.
- Touch as Comfort: The kiss is not just romantic but is the concrete action that breaks the cycle of sadness. Physical affection restores emotional balance.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter crystallizes one of the central tensions of the novel: the boys’ love is strong, but the world does not make it easy to stay together. Their conversation about college is the first pragmatic acknowledgment of the physical separation ahead. Yet the chapter also shows that they can navigate sadness together, using humor and affection to reinforce their bond. It sets up future conflicts about distance and independence while affirming that their relationship can withstand uncertainty.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Dante ask, “Do we all wind up in sadness?”
Dante is reflecting on the poem’s tone and projecting his own anxiety about the future. He worries that sadness is inevitable, especially because he and Ari will soon be separated by college.
2. How does Ari react to Dante’s college plans?
Ari accepts the reality without complaint or anger. He says he is applying to UT, implying he has not considered following Dante. His calm acceptance shows maturity but also a quiet sadness.
3. What is the function of the argument about The Raft of the Medusa?
The playful argument shifts the mood from heavy to light, allowing both characters to replace anxiety with laughter. It reinforces their shared taste and gives them a moment of closeness that culminates in a kiss.