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Part 5, Chapter 9
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. May 15, 2014. Addie decides to bring Book back to Henry’s apartment. Book is immediately at home. That evening, Henry snaps a polaroid photo of Addie and Book curled up together on the couch. But when the film is developed, the girl in the frame has no face. Henry is determined to capture Addie, though, and wants to try something else. He tries again and again, from different angles, in different lights—but still, no photos develop correctly. Finally, Henry places the camera in Addie’s hands. He crouches behind her and places his hands over hers to position the viewfinder in front of Addie’s eye. Then they snap a photo of the developed photos lined up on the floor and Addie’s feet at the bottom of the frame. This time, it works.
This is a major turning point in the novel: it’s the first time that Addie has managed to capture herself on film. What makes this time different, it seems, is that Addie and Henry have taken the photo together, with Henry’s hands placed over Addie’s. This suggests that there’s something powerful and transformative about human connection—perhaps even powerful enough to override the stipulations of Addie’s curse. This section also reinforces the novel’s central argument that interpretive ideas are separate—and more powerful—than mere memories.
Themes
