Previous
Henry Strauss
Estele is an eccentric old woman who lives in Addie’s hometown, the small French village of Villon-sur-Sarthe. Estele eschews social norms and does as she pleases. She is single and doesn’t have children, and so she has always had only herself to answer to. Though the other villagers think that Estele is wicked or crazy, Addie admires Estele and longs to have a life like hers. Estele rejects “the new God” (the Christian God) that other villagers worship. Instead, she prays to “the old gods,” which are connected to nature. Estele teaches Addie how to pray to the old gods but warns her that they are “fickle,” and so Addie must be careful what she asks them for. Estele cautions Addie never to “pray to the gods who answer after dark”—advice that Addie ignores, ultimately leading to her deal with Luc. Years later, after Estele has died, Addie returns to Villon and is shocked to see that Estele has been buried in a Christian cemetery (it was Estele’s wish that she be buried and a tree planted above her bones so that she could become a tree). So, Addie transplants a sapling onto Estele’s grave, and it eventually grows into a giant tree. Years later, lightning strikes the tree, killing it. This compels Luc to remark that while the gods might be cruel, “nature can be crueler.”
Estele Quotes in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
The The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue quotes below are all either spoken by Estele or refer to Estele. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part 1, Chapter 4
Quotes
Estele’s face darkens. “The old gods may be great, but they are neither kind nor merciful. They are fickle, unsteady as moonlight on water, or shadows in a storm. If you insist on calling them, take heed: be careful what you ask for, be willing to pay the price.” She leans over Adeline, casting her in shadow. “And no matter how desperate or dire, never pray to the gods that answer after dark.”
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 1, Chapter 8
Quotes
Adeline had wanted to be a tree. To grow wild and deep, belong to no one but the ground beneath her feet, and the sky above, just like Estele. It would be an unconventional life, and perhaps a little lonely, but at least it would be hers. She would belong to no one but herself.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 5, Chapter 1
Quotes
He glances over his shoulder, a coy grin playing over his lips. “For all her talk of freedom, she was so lonely in the end.” Addie shakes her head. “No.” “You should have been here with her,” he says. “Should have eased her pain when she was ill. Should have laid her down to rest. You owed her that.” Addie draws back as if struck. “You were so selfish, Adeline. And because of you, she died alone.”
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue LitChart as a printable PDF.
Estele Quotes in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
The The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue quotes below are all either spoken by Estele or refer to Estele. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part 1, Chapter 4
Quotes
Estele’s face darkens. “The old gods may be great, but they are neither kind nor merciful. They are fickle, unsteady as moonlight on water, or shadows in a storm. If you insist on calling them, take heed: be careful what you ask for, be willing to pay the price.” She leans over Adeline, casting her in shadow. “And no matter how desperate or dire, never pray to the gods that answer after dark.”
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 1, Chapter 8
Quotes
Adeline had wanted to be a tree. To grow wild and deep, belong to no one but the ground beneath her feet, and the sky above, just like Estele. It would be an unconventional life, and perhaps a little lonely, but at least it would be hers. She would belong to no one but herself.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 5, Chapter 1
Quotes
He glances over his shoulder, a coy grin playing over his lips. “For all her talk of freedom, she was so lonely in the end.” Addie shakes her head. “No.” “You should have been here with her,” he says. “Should have eased her pain when she was ill. Should have laid her down to rest. You owed her that.” Addie draws back as if struck. “You were so selfish, Adeline. And because of you, she died alone.”
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
