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
The next day, Eleanor sees a discarded coupon for a “Deluxe Pamper Manicure” sitting in the office recycling bin. Eleanor doesn’t see what “luxury and pampering” have to do with painting nails, but she decides to find out and resume her “animal grooming regime.” Her new social events have distracted her somewhat, and she resolves to return her focus to the task at hand: winning over the musician.
By comparing her self-improvements to an “animal grooming regime,” Eleanor sets herself apart from other humans and also highlights the confusion with which she regards social norms. Eleanor’s so-called “distractions” are aspects of the life she desires, but she’s too delusional to recognize this. Additionally, given the fact that Mummy’s support of the romance is one of Eleanor’s primary motivations for winning over the musician, prioritizing him above all else is evidence that Eleanor makes decisions based on what Mummy wants for her rather than on what she wants for herself.
Themes
Eleanor arrives at the salon, “Nails Etcetera,” and asks for a Deluxe Pamper Manicure. She selects a bright green bottle of nail color from a rack of polishes. Eleanor finds the “pampering” process confusing and unnecessary but goes along with it anyway. She makes odd, awkward conversation with Casey, the nail technician. Eleanor is ultimately underwhelmed by the pampering experience and declines Casey’s offer of a loyalty card, reasoning that she could do the same work herself, or “better,” even, for free. Eleanor walks out of the salon, leaving Casey and the other worker dumfounded.
Eleanor’s blunt response to Casey’s offer of a loyalty card demonstrates her social awkwardness. Her blunt criticism is also fueled by the belief that she could do a superior job than Casey, which is evidence of her propensity to be overly critical of others, which she learned from Mummy. Regardless, it seems as though Eleanor is willing to go through the motions of external self-improvements like this in order to win over the musician, which shows how delusional she is about what such a feat will require of her.
Themes
Eleanor returns home and looks through her closet for something to wear to Sammy’s homecoming party. She has white blouses and black pants for work, comfortable clothes for the weekend, and a single “special occasion” outfit that she bought years ago and that is now out of fashion. She decides to go shopping for something new tomorrow. Eleanor feels happy as she makes pasta and listens to the radio.
Eleanor thinks that wearing the right outfit will be enough to ensure that Sammy’s homecoming party is a fun experience for her—she doesn’t want to admit that she’ll have to put in the effort to socialize in order to make her time at the party a success.
Themes
Eleanor’s good mood doesn’t last long. “Hello?” Eleanor asks, reluctantly. It is Mummy, who is infuriated that Eleanor missed her call last night. Eleanor tries to explain that she was visiting a friend in the hospital, but Mummy accuses her of lying, insisting that Eleanor doesn’t have any friends. She tries to make Eleanor feel guilty for abandoning her for others before switching topics to discuss Eleanor’s “project” of pursuing the musician. Mummy mocks and berates Eleanor for snooping around outside his apartment. She encourages Eleanor to “tak[e] decisive action” and do what she wants to do, regardless of “the consequences.”
This phone call makes it clear that Mummy is threatened by Eleanor’s new social life. Mummy’s insistence that Eleanor get back to her “project” of pursuing the musician instead of hanging out with her new friends encourages Eleanor to resort to the comforts of fantasy rather than face the risk of social humiliation that Sammy’s party poses. Mummy’s final word of advice to Eleanor to “tak[e] decisive action” regardless of “the consequences” seems pointed, but it’s unclear to what Mummy is referring. It’s possible that Mummy’s cryptic advice has something to do with Eleanor’s childhood incident.
Themes
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Mummy changes the subject, telling Eleanor not to get too distracted by her job and her new friends. In Mummy’s eyes, Eleanor is a complete failure, which is something Eleanor herself should realize every time she sees her scars. Mummy asks Eleanor to remember “how [she] got them,” asking, “was it worth it? For her?” Then there is silence.
By drawing Eleanor’s attention toward her scars, Mummy suggests that Eleanor will always be held back by her traumatic past. When Mummy asks Eleanor if it was “worth it? For her?” she seems to imply that Eleanor’s scars are her own fault, and that she incurred them for another person (“her”) who’s unknown to the reader thus far.
Themes
