Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Enduring Impact of Trauma
Shame and the Stigmatization of Pain
Projection and Denial
The Vicious Circle of Isolation and Social Awkwardness
Summary
Analysis
Eleanor arrives at Dr. Temple’s office for her next therapy session. Dr. Temple tells Eleanor she’d like to talk about the fire today—a subject Eleanor has, thus far, avoided. She tells Eleanor to close her eyes and imagine she’s back at home. Eleanor feels unprepared to delve into a subject she’s spent so many years repressing, but goes along with Maria’s request. Eleanor remembers Mummy being “angry” because “we’ve woken her up again.” She begins to cry. Maria urges her to continue. Eleanor hesitates before whispering: “where’s Marianne?”
Eleanor has repressed Marianne’s existence for years, so it’s a big deal for her to finally say Marianne’s name out loud. Symbolically, speaking Marianne’s name raises her from the depths of Eleanor’s unconscious mind to the surface of consciousness. Given the context clues Eleanor provides here through the memory of Mummy being angry that Eleanor and Marianne have “woken her up again,” it’s somewhat safe to assume that Marianne is Eleanor’s sibling.
Themes
