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Part 4, Chapter 11
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Memory and Meaning
Love and Vulnerability
Freedom
Art, Creativity, and Expression
Wonder and Knowledge
Summary
Analysis
New York City. September 19, 2013. Henry meets Vanessa at a small taqueria. For once, Henry doesn’t overthink everything he says. He feels natural and effortless, “because he is enough.” They make small talk, and Henry asks Vanessa what she sees in him. She smiles, then shyly offers that Henry is “exactly what [she’s] been looking for.” She uses generic words like “outgoing, funny, [and] ambitious,” and as she talks, the white mist grows thicker over her eyes. And then Henry finally understands: she can’t see him at all.
Henry’s date with Vanessa allows him to see his deal with Luc for the curse it truly is. He finally understands that the cost of having everyone enchanted to want him is that nobody sees him for who he truly is. He realizes that the curse has freed him from experiencing emotional vulnerability—a fundamental part of all intimate human relationships—and so, none of his relationships is real.
Themes
Later, Henry wakes to Vanessa running her hand down his back. Vanessa says they need to talk. Then she announces that she loves Henry. She assures him that he doesn’t need to feel pressured to say it back, though. Henry looks at her, confused; is she sure? They’ve only been seeing each other for one week. Unsure of what to make of all this, Henry takes a shower to think things over.
Suddenly, Henry begins to doubt and question the affection he earlier accepted with open arms. Vanessa’s declaration of love seems too good to be true because it is: Vanessa doesn’t love Henry, she only loves whatever version of Henry Luc’s curse has caused her to project onto him.
Themes
After his shower, Henry walks into the kitchen and finds Vanessa burning a box of Tabitha’s old things in the sink. Henry angrily demands to know what she’s doing. Vanessa explains that Henry is “holding on to the past.” Henry is furious and tells Vanessa to go home. Vanessa starts to sob, and Henry assures her that he cares about her and promises to call her back later. After Henry shuts the door behind Vanessa, the smoke detector goes off behind him.
It’s ludicrous for Vanessa to accuse Henry of clinging to the past by keeping the belongings of the long-term girlfriend he broke up with just weeks ago—and Vanessa’s irrational logic and behavior further proves to Henry that his deal with Luc has cost him far more than he bargained for.
Themes
