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Chapter 2
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Immortalists, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Fate vs. Choice
Family and Shared History
Obsession
Death, Meaning, and Legacy
Surviving vs. Living
Magic, Religion, Dance, and Possibility
Summary
Analysis
Simon starts looking for work, and he asks about a job at the club under their apartment, Purp. Benny, the owner, suggests that Simon can dance on a pillar, as one of his dancers quit the week prior. Simon agrees. That night, Simon and five other men put on purple makeup from head to toe. Lady, a drag queen, helps Simon with his makeup. Simon gleefully strips and puts on a purple thong. When the club opens, Simon stands on his pedestal and starts awkwardly moving his hips. Lady coaches him, telling him to be looser. He starts to relax his muscles and tosses his head. He feels electric.
For Simon, dancing represents his ability to be who he wants to be, as he would never have the freedom to get a job like this had he stayed in New York City. Additionally, dancing at Purp—nearly naked—is an extension of Simon’s sexual liberation, and the two become inextricably tied in Simon’s mind. Thus, dancing at the club enables Simon to imagine new possibilities in his life and to pursue pleasure in new ways.
Themes
At Simon’s shift the next day, Benny says that Simon needs to keep up with the other men—he looked too awkward. Simon says that he’s not in bad shape because he runs. Benny responds that dancers don’t run; they fly. Because they’re artists. Benny suggests that Simon take a ballet class at a nearby dance school. Simon is hesitant at first, but he eventually agrees.
The story frequently references the fact that Simon is a runner. This piece of his character is something of a metaphor, as Simon is racing against time and his impending death. Of course, he does this when he runs away from home, but here, Benny suggests that his athleticism opens up new kinds of possibilities for Simon, since dancing means being able to find new joy in his life.
Themes
