Chapter 70: Dry – The Art of Leaving a Mark
⚠️ 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
In Chapter 70, “Dry,” Icarus takes a decisive, quiet action. He tears a drawing of Julian out of his notebook, trims the rough edges, and signs and dates it. He titles the piece “Art Shit” before folding it into quarters and slipping it through the vent of Julian’s locker. The act is private, deliberate, and intimate—offering a piece of himself without expectation of a return.
Key Events
- Icarus removes a portrait of Julian from his own notebook.
- He carefully trims the paper, then signs and dates the drawing.
- He titles the work “Art Shit.”
- He folds the drawing into quarters.
- He inserts the folded paper into the vent of Julian McPherson’s locker.
Character Development
- Icarus: This chapter shows Icarus acting with quiet courage. By leaving the drawing, he moves from hidden admiration to a small but meaningful gesture of vulnerability. His choice to title it “Art Shit” suggests self-deprecation or a desire to shield himself from rejection—he frames the gift as trivial, even though the act of giving it is the opposite.
- Julian (off-page): Though Julian does not appear, he is the object of Icarus’s attention. The gesture implies that Icarus sees Julian as someone worth risking embarrassment for.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Vulnerability and Secrecy: The locker vent represents a private channel—a space between public and private. Icarus’s action is both exposed (he must do it in a hallway) and hidden (the vent conceals the drawing until Julian finds it). The title “Art Shit” acts as a shield, downplaying the emotional risk.
- The Power of Small Acts: A single, undramatic moment—sliding paper into a vent—carries enormous personal weight. The chapter’s title “Dry” contrasts the emotional humidity of Icarus’s feelings; the act is crisp, factual, but loaded.
- Art as Communication: The drawing is a silent message. Icarus does not use words; he offers his own visual interpretation of Julian. The act of signing and dating it turns the sketch into a historical record of his wanting.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 70 is a quiet turning point. Up to this point, Icarus’s feelings for Julian have been internal. Here, he externalizes them with a tangible object. The chapter builds tension: will Julian find the drawing? How will he respond? It also deepens the theme of art as a means of connection, preparing readers for the potential consequences of this risky gift.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Icarus title the drawing “Art Shit”? The title serves as a protective cushion. By labeling his own work harshly, Icarus lowers expectations and guards against disappointment if Julian dislikes the portrait. It’s a form of self-effacement that makes the gift feel less earnest, thereby reducing Icarus’s vulnerability.
2. What is the significance of slipping the drawing into a locker vent? The vent is neither fully public nor fully private—it’s a liminal space. Icarus chooses a method that is secretive enough to avoid direct confrontation yet traceable enough that Julian will likely find it. This mirrors Icarus’s own emotional state: wanting to be seen but afraid of open exposure.
3. How does this chapter reflect the theme of “dry” versus emotional intensity? The title “Dry” describes the method—a crisp, neat, mechanical action—while the content is deeply emotional. The contrast emphasizes that Icarus is trying to contain his feelings within a controlled, almost sterile act. The “dryness” is a facade for the wet, messy reality of his attachment.