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Part 1, Chapter 9: The Key
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Magic, Cinema, and Imagination
Friendship, Honesty, and Vulnerability
Meaning and Purpose
Hardship and Maturity
Summary
Analysis
The next day, Hugo arrives late to Georges’s shop and finds that Georges is furious with him. Georges accuses Hugo of breaking into his house and stealing the notebook. He tells Hugo that he knows he’s been stealing from the store, but he didn’t mind because Hugo is a good worker. However, breaking into someone else’s home is a step too far. Before Hugo can say anything, Georges starts coughing and gestures for Hugo to leave.
Georges’s anger at the stolen notebook confirms once and for all that he did not destroy it. Again, Georges demonstrates that, although he can be grumpy, he is not unreasonable, as he allowed Hugo to continue working even though he knew Hugo was stealing from him. Because he trusted Hugo, at least to a certain degree, Georges feels betrayed.
Themes
As Hugo starts to leave, he sees Isabelle behind the shop’s counter with the notebook in her hand. Hugo approaches Isabelle and she asks about the drawings. Hugo chastises Isabelle for looking and requests that she give him the notebook, but she refuses. Georges angrily makes his way toward Hugo and Isabelle. Before he can get to them, Hugo gives Isabelle a hug, which surprises her. Georges orders Hugo to let go of Isabelle. He does as Georges asks, and then takes off running.
Although Hugo does not like that Georges is mad at him, his interest in the notebook far outweighs any other concerns. For a moment, it looks like Hugo’s relationship with Isabelle has fundamentally changed because he hugs despite the fact, she looked at his notebook. However, there is more to the hug than meets the eye, as the next chapter will demonstrate.
Themes
