Theme and message

The main theme of the short story “Dancing to Nat King Cole” by James Wall is the relationship between parents and children, which is illustrated by the motif of sacrifice. Through this theme, the author suggests that parents generally have the tendency to protect their children, even when they become adults.…

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The parent-child relationship

This theme is illustrated by the relationship between Rebecca and her parents, Katherine and Charles.

When Rebecca comes to join her parents at lunch, Katherine avoids telling her the truth about Charles:

She tells her of their days, how after all these years they still get up together in the morning and sit in the kitchen with their tea, how the…

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Motif: Sacrifice

The motif of sacrifice also resurfaces in the story. Not only does Katherine deal with Charles’ disease, but she also sacrifices her own mental and physical hea…