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Part 4, Chapter 12
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. October 23, 2013. Henry, Bea, and Robbie settle down on Henry’s sofa for movie night. Henry groans when Robbie announces that they’re going to watch The Shining—Henry hates horror movies. Robbie turns off all the lights so they can feel extra scared. When the murdered twin girls appear on screen, Robbie places his hand on Henry’s thigh—and he keeps it there long after the frightening moment passes. Henry gets up to make more popcorn, and Robbie follows him into the kitchen to help.
It’s one thing for Henry to contend with the enchanted affection of practical strangers like Vanessa, but things are different with Robbie, someone with whom Henry is close and shares a complicated, romantic history. Before, Henry might have welcomed Robbie’s attempt at physical intimacy—but can he accept it now that he understands that it’s not something that Robbie would want, were he not under a spell?
Themes
Once in the kitchen, Robbie kisses Henry on the lips. Henry starts to return the kiss. This, Henry thinks, feels better than all the others’ attention. But then Henry pulls away. What he and Robbie used to have was real—but then it ended. And what’s happening now isn’t real.
Robbie’s affection feels empty and wrong to Henry because Robbie isn’t choosing to be affectionate, he’s merely acting the part that Luc’s power has thrust on him.
Themes
