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5. Lapidary
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in All the Light We Cannot See, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
World War II, the Nazis, and the French Resistance
Interconnectedness and Separation
Fate, Duty, and Free Will
Family
Science and “Ways of Seeing”
Summary
Analysis
Daniel LeBlanc sends his daughter a letter. He explains that he is in Germany. He claims that he’s being served “wonderful food,” and insists that Marie-Laure be polite to Etienne and Madame Manec. He concludes by saying, “I am right beside you.”
We have no idea where Daniel is, or how he’s managed to send his daughter letters, but it seems that Daniel is concealing information—just as he’s done in the past—in order to be more comforting to his daughter. Daniel’s closing words highlight both the importance of family, and also the theme of interconnectedness, as he is present as a loving force in Marie-Laure’s life even after his physical disappearance.
Themes
