Trust Your True Friends

Authors Note: This following piece is a formal five paragraph essay discussing the main themes within the book The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau.

When getting in the ages of twelve or thirteen, it's hard to know who your friends are because everyone is changing. Figuring out who will be there when you need help, who will defend you, and who will believe you with whatever you say.Finding out your true friends and not being able to trust everyone are the main themes within the novel The City of Ember for various reasons.

To start, a while after the graduating class had gotten their jobs, Lina bumped into one of her good friends from school. As Lina and her old friend Lizzie were talking, Lizzie acted strange, as though she didn’t want to speak to Lina.Since Lizzie works as a stocks-person, she has permission to go where all the substances are that all citizens have a limited amount to. As it turned out,Lizzie and her boyfriend were stealing food and light bulbs for not only themselves, but the mayor as well.


Next, in any given situation everyone should be able to trust their leader and believe they would do their best to help their people.Unfortunately, the mayor of Ember is the exact opposite. He is not trustworthy,which many people do not know. He has stock workers deliver whatever he needs for him without limited amounts. Also, he doesn’t care about the shortages on light bulbs and food. The discussion between Doon and the Mayor at the end of page 12 through page 13 shows that the Mayor doesn't care about the blackouts or shortages and is too afraid to admit that tragedies are happening to his city.

Unlike Mayor Cole, Lizzie, and her boyfriend, Doon Harrow is a true, loyal friend. He is always there for Lina when she is in need to talk to someone, and believes her for whatever she has to say even if it might seem completely insane. Lina discovered the mayor (someone who seems so devoted to his city)was stealing many things that are limited to the other citizens, and Doon didn't question her or tell her to prove it because he knew she would never lie to him. 

In conclusion; the theme in this novel is shown throughout several ways. Lizzie not being who Lina thought she was, the mayor not being trust Doon, and Doon being the one who was the most dependable out of all.