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Part 6, Chapter 3
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. July 29, 2014. Addie and Henry return to Henry’s apartment. The sun is still out, and Addie feels safe. At Henry’s apartment, Henry pulls her into him and onto the bed. They fall asleep. When Addie wakes, it’s dark outside, and she panics. She investigates the apartment. Luc is nowhere in sight, and Addie decides he’s not coming. Addie returns to the bedroom; Henry has since woken up. Later, they go to the Merchant. Addie thinks this is the best ending to the best day. Addie asks Henry to dance with her, and he does.
Tension builds as the anniversary of Addie’s deal inches along and—so far—there’s no sign of Luc. Though Addie is anxious about Luc making an appearance and ruining everything, she decides that it’s worth it to take the risk and spend the day with Henry, who she loves, rather than playing it safe and spending time apart.
Themes
After they dance, Henry approaches the bar and orders two beers. The bartender returns with one beer—and one glass of Champagne. Henry is about to complain, but Addie immediately knows what’s up. The bartender gestures toward a gentleman at the end of the bar and says he ordered the drink. It’s Luc. Suddenly, the bar is full of people but completely still. Addie angrily tells Luc to leave Henry alone.
Tension continues to build as Luc appears. Luc has visited Addie so many times before, but this time is different—this time, Addie has someone in her life whom she actually cares about—someone Luc could take away from. In developing feelings for Henry, Addie has made herself vulnerable to Luc in a way she hasn’t done before.
Themes
Luc’s smile disappears. Does Addie really think that she and Henry have met by accident? No, Luc corrects her; they have met because Luc let them meet. Then Luc turns to Henry and asks him if he’s started to count down his life in hours yet. Addie turns to Henry, not understanding. This pleases Luc. With this, he disappears into the darkness. Addie turns to Henry, pleading with him to explain what’s going on. She remembers what Henry said earlier, about Luc’s deal lasting “a lifetime.” She knew then that it wasn’t the full truth. Finally, Henry tells the rest of the story.
Luc’s bombshell—that he orchestrated Addie and Henry’s meeting—suggests that Addie, in allowing herself to grow close to Henry, has inadvertently played into Luc’s hands and made herself vulnerable to him in a way that will come back to bite her. Luc’s inquiry about Henry counting down the hours seems related to the things about his curse and himself that Henry has withheld from Addie. He told her that his deal with Luc was good for “a lifetime,” but it's now pretty clear that this isn’t quite true.
Themes
