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
Mummy talks to Eleanor again on Wednesday. Eleanor tells her about Keith’s party, and Mummy mocks Eleanor for dancing and having a good time. Eleanor tells her about her promotion and Mummy dismisses this news as well, cautioning her not to let these silly things distract her from her “project.”
Mummy instructs Eleanor to refocus her attention on the musician so that she remains isolated from her new friends and, by extension, reliant on Mummy for social interaction. Mummy seems set on ensuring that Eleanor remains dependent on her and unable to move forward in life.
Themes
Later, Eleanor reflects on humanity’s ability to get through times of pain, reasoning that the possibility of change allows one to persevere through times of hardship. Eleanor’s new promotion gives her a renewed sense of purpose at her job. She works with Bob more often now, and he fills her in on more details about the business and about the annoyances of working with clients. Eleanor continues to plan the Christmas lunch, working toward finding the perfect venue. She continues to meet Raymond for their weekly lunches.
Hope that her life will change for the better is what allows Eleanor to live on in the wake of her traumatic past. Now, she is finally witnessing changes: she receives a promotion at work, and she is building more meaningful relationships with colleagues and friends. Despite Eleanor’s misguided belief that altering her appearance will change her life, it’s clear to the reader that Eleanor only experiences meaningful change when she makes the choice to socialize and venture outside her comfort zone.
Themes
One day, Raymond asks Eleanor to meet for lunch a second time that week because he has something to tell her. Eleanor arrives at their usual café early and talks with Mikey, a waiter, who tells her he’ll be leaving his job soon to care for his girlfriend, Hazel, who has cancer, and their baby. Raymond arrives soon after and tells Eleanor more bad news: Sammy is dead—he had a heart attack at Laura’s over the weekend. Eleanor asks if he was alone at the time and wonders if the death was the result of foul play. Raymond is disgusted by Eleanor’s crass remark, though she insists it just popped into her head and she didn’t mean any harm by it.
Tragedies like Sammy’s death and Hazel’s sickness seem to be the reason that Eleanor is hesitant to bring more people into her life, as she’s alluded to the fact that past experiences have taught her how loss is a side effect of love. Raymond is disgusted by Eleanor’s inappropriate remark about the circumstances surrounding Sammy’s death, but Eleanor didn’t mean to be insensitive: she likely only makes this comment because she’s uncomfortable with death and uncertain of how to manage her discomfort.
Themes
Eleanor thinks about the cruelty of horrible things happening to good people and begins to cry. Raymond puts his arm around her, and Eleanor notes how much better Raymond’s touch makes her feel. Eleanor expresses sympathy toward Sammy’s family and she and Raymond remember what a funny, kind man Sammy was.
Eleanor used to avoid others’ affection, but now she accepts Raymond’s comforting gesture. Eleanor is slowly learning to accept that she needs other people.
Themes
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Eleanor decides that she will attend Sammy’s funeral. She and Raymond leave the café and walk back to the office in silence. When they arrive, they squeeze each other’s hands and part ways. Eleanor feels emotionally raw. When she returns to her desk, there’s an email waiting for her from Raymond: “C U Friday Rx,” to which she responds, simply, “X.”
Eleanor usually numbs her pain with vodka or denial, but now she allows herself to feel emotionally raw. Eleanor’s email exchange with Raymond shows that she’s willing to compromise her preference for non-abbreviated language to communicate with Raymond.
Themes
