And the World was Dancing...

(O'Brien, 129-130)

"A while later when we moved out of the hamlet, she was still dancing. "Probably some weird ritual," Azar said, but Henry Dobbins looked back and said no, the girl just liked to dance."

This short chapter captures a few different important elements of this tale. It contributes to the characterization of Henry Dobbins, one of the best characters, as he respects the young girl dancing. The chapter also builds on the theme of silence; however, in this instance the silence is only there for those who can't listen to or hear the music playing in the ears of the dancing girl. The desire to only hear silence plays into the biggest idea of this chapter; the group especially Azar wants to follow the tradition of mourning the dead. They simply can't understand how this gal is not only dancing, but is also smiling and ignoring her family and them. They want her to feel hardship and sorrow and fit the their mold. Common of human nature, Azar tries everything to try and solve this abnormal behavior, from claiming it to be ritual to mocking her. On of the largest flaws of human nature is denying differences, displayed in our habits of war and segregation. Instead, perhaps we should dance rather than question those who do.