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 thinks about Sammy and Mrs. Gibbons while she’s at work the next week. She considers visiting them but dreads socializing without having Raymond by her side as a buffer. Eleanor is in the process of reading the manual for the cell phone she bought earlier in the week when she overhears her coworkers discussing the office’s annual Christmas lunch. They’re talking about having entertainment, and Eleanor dreamily wonders if the entertainment will be the musician’s band. Eleanor’s coworkers turn to her and mockingly ask where they should hold the party, as she’s “a bit of a girl around town.” Eleanor expresses patent disinterest, inspiring Billy to joke that she must’ve had a bad experience with Christmas in the past. Eleanor knows these people don’t know the half of the bad experiences she had.
Eleanor is gradually becoming more comfortable with socializing, but not enough to do so on her own. Eleanor’s delusional daydreams about the musician continue to dominate her thoughts and distract her from the real world around her. Billy’s comment strikes a chord for Eleanor in ways that he and the other coworkers can’t imagine, as Eleanor’s past was apparently defined by her bad experiences; still, she doesn’t correct Billy, as she believes society expects people to say that things are fine even when they’re not.
Themes
Eleanor receives a call from Raymond asking if she’d like to visit Sammy with him tonight. It’s Wednesday, so accepting Raymond’s invitation would mean missing her weekly call with Mummy, but Eleanor agrees anyway, reasoning that Sammy needs her to bring him nutritious food, so it makes sense for her to go.
Forgoing a phone call with Mummy to socialize with others is a big step for Eleanor, and it shows how she’s becoming more comfortable with deviating from her normal, isolating routine. Still, Eleanor isn’t quite ready to admit that she’s becoming less reliant on routine and isolation, so she has to make up an excuse to herself—reasoning that it’s okay to miss Mummy’s call because Sammy needs food—to validate her decision.
Themes
Eleanor and Raymond meet after work and walk to the hospital. Eleanor tells Raymond about her day, recalling her coworkers’ insipid plans for the Christmas party. She uses air-quotes as she tells this story, which she’d seen Janey use “and had stored away for future reference.” Eleanor and Raymond arrive at the hospital. Raymond goes to the hospital shop to purchase a gift for Sammy. Eleanor, who procured her gifts for Sammy earlier that day, is in awe of Raymond’s unpreparedness.
Little by little, Eleanor is learning how to socialize and making an effort to practice what she learns in her daily life. However, being harsh toward Raymond reinforces Eleanor’s tendency to be unreasonably and hypocritically critical of others, a trait she seemingly inherited from Mummy.
Themes
Eleanor and Raymond arrive at Sammy’s bed to find him surrounded by visitors. Sammy smiles when he sees them and introduces them to his family. Everyone smiles and shakes hands with Eleanor and Raymond. Eleanor is wearing white cotton gloves for her eczema, which makes people uncomfortable about shaking her hand. Keith, Sammy’s older son, thanks Eleanor and Raymond for helping his father. Excitedly, Sammy informs Eleanor and Raymond that he’s being released on Saturday. Sammy’s daughter, Laura, tells them that her father will be staying at her house for a bit, and she invites them to a party she’s holding to celebrate. Eleanor catches Laura staring at her face, but she prefers this to the alternative “sneaky” glances she often receives.
Eleanor’s simple act of kindness toward Sammy has resulted in a party invitation. Just as loneliness perpetuates social awkwardness and social awkwardness perpetuates loneliness, so, too, does social interaction perpetuate social ease and social ease perpetuate social interaction. Eleanor prefers for people to stare at her face because staring is a more honest gesture, and one that Eleanor, who so often says exactly what’s on her mind, can relate to.
Themes
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Although Eleanor hasn’t been to a party since she was a child, she accepts Laura’s invitation. Laura gives Raymond and Eleanor her business card, which reveals that she is an “Esthetic Technician, Hair Stylist, [and] Image Consultant.” Eleanor notices Raymond staring at Laura, who has blond hair and a voluptuous figure. Eleanor and Raymond leave the ward. Sammy is confused as he pulls a bag of kale out of the package Eleanor brought for him. “Zinc,” thinks Eleanor.
Eleanor’s grasp on social etiquette is improving—she remembered to bring Sammy a gift this time—but she doesn’t quite understand what is considered an appropriate gift. Bringing Sammy a bag of kale because he needs more zinc in his diet is a thoughtful gesture, albeit a slightly strange one.
Themes
