Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Immortalists, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Fate vs. Choice
Family and Shared History
Obsession
Death, Meaning, and Legacy
Surviving vs. Living
Magic, Religion, Dance, and Possibility
Summary
Analysis
In February 1988, Klara performs in a Cabaret theater to an unreceptive audience. But afterward, a man approaches her, and she recognizes him as Raj, one of the first people she met in San Francisco. They go out to a café and start talking. When Raj asks about Simon, she explains that he died of AIDS when he was 20 years old. She’s grateful that now she has a name for what happened, but she quickly changes the subject because talking about Simon upsets her.
Even six years after Simon’s death, Klara is still grieving him deeply. At the same time, Klara feels connected to Raj because of the memories of Simon that they share, reinforcing how shared experiences can pull people back together even after they have not seen each other for long periods of time.
Themes
Klara asks about Raj, who is a mechanic. He explains that when he was growing poor up in India, his dad wanted him to be a surgeon, and Raj moved to the U.S. when he was ten with his dad’s cousin. He says he quickly figured out that he preferred fixing things instead of people. Klara talks about her own journey, explaining that initially the grind of performing was exciting, but now she’s tired of doing it alone and constantly trying to get bookings. She does still get excited about changing the way people see the world, though.
Raj demonstrates how his own father, like Simon’s, viewed him as a means of ensuring the family legacy. Raj’s father hoped that he would achieve more than he had and would build upon his hard work to make a better life in America. Additionally, even though Klara is tired of the practical aspects of producing her magic shows, she still appreciates how magic can expand a person’s worldview.
Themes
Raj suggests that Klara cut the small magic in her act and perform bigger tricks. She says that she’d have to get real equipment and an assistant. She starts explaining a few tricks she’d like to do—one where a cage with a bird completely disappears in the magician’s hand. The Proteus cabinet is another: it is a cabinet on casters that’s shown to be completely empty, and then after it’s closed, a knock comes from inside and a person appears. Raj suggests that the tricks are accomplished through a collapsible cage and mirrors. Klara agrees but says that the mechanics have to be flawless to achieve the illusions.
The illusions that Klara cites provide examples of how magic can alter and expand someone’s worldview. When audiences don’t understand how something is done, there is a sense of wonder and possibility when they can consider that an illusion might have many different explanations. Klara herself finds wonder in attempting to figure out how the illusions are done.
Themes
Klara goes on, explaining that her favorite trick is Second Sight, invented by Charles Morritt. He asked for objects from audience members and then his assistant, who was blindfolded and facing a wall, would identify the objects. Raj suggests a few solutions, all of which Klara debunks, saying that she’s thought about it for years. Raj says they’ll just have to think harder.
Second Sight is another example of the excitement and wonder that can result from trying to figure out how illusions are done—even in someone who is very familiar with magic. In describing the trick without providing the solution initially, the novel also invites the reader to play into this wonder and consider their own possible explanations for the mystery.
Themes
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