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Part 4, Chapter 17
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. Winter 2014. Henry now sees his situation as a “curse” rather than a “deal.” He resigns himself to acting as the better friend, brother, and son that the curse deludes people into thinking he already is. And then, he meets Addie. And when he looks into her eyes, he sees no mist. And then, over coffee, she says that she sees Henry for who he is, not someone who is perfect. And for the first time since he made his deal, Henry doesn’t feel cursed—“he feels seen.”
Henry’s observation about “feel[ing] seen” for the first time implicitly draws a connection between Addie’s curse and Henry’s curse. In different ways, their deals with Luc have caused them to become invisible to others—and now, their feelings for each other are what make them feel seen. With this, the novel suggests the power of genuine human connection to create meaning and purpose in a person’s life.
Themes
