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
At dinner, the family digs in. Ruby and Raj are leaving early the next morning, and Mira asks shyly for them to explain a trick that she once saw a street magician perform, in which she picked a card and the magician guessed what it was. Ruby and Raj explain that the magician manipulated her decisions so that she would pick the card that he wanted her to. Mira confesses that she feels disappointed that the explanation is so rational. Raj says that magicians have to be analytical to deceive people. Daniel argues with Raj, saying that Klara didn’t want to deceive people; she wanted to reveal a greater truth.
This exchange revives Klara’s fundamental argument with Raj over magic. Raj believes that magic is about deception, but Klara believed that magic was meant to add wonder to the world. In explaining the trick to Mira, he and Ruby have removed the possibility for other, more mysterious explanations. As Daniel notes, Klara believed that magic’s appeal lies in its ability to expand people’s worldviews.
Themes
Raj confesses to Daniel that he doesn’t believe in his own tricks, but his career means as much to him as Daniel’s does. He criticizes the paradox of Daniel’s job: that he makes sure men are healthy enough to go to war. Daniel and Raj then get into a heated argument about the war in Iraq and Raj condemns Israel’s support for it. As soon as Raj mentions Israel, the Golds pull together. Mira points out that Raj is scapegoating the Jews. Raj counters that the Jews act like victims and use this mindset to oppress others. Gertie ends the conversation, and Daniel and Raj leave to take a walk. Ruby is almost in tears.
Raj’s criticism of Daniel’s work further destabilizes Daniel’s insecurity about whether he is doing something meaningful with his life. In addition, the argument about the war proves that there is another element of shared history that bonds people together: common religion and common oppression. The Golds immediately band together in the conversation to support Israel because of their shared heritage with many Israeli people.
Themes
Outside, Daniel accuses Raj of making empty accusations when he’s sitting in a mansion doing magic tricks. Daniel also accuses Raj of stealing Klara’s act. Raj counters, saying that he was Klara’s partner, and he took care of her when she was sick. Raj says that Daniel wasn’t there for Klara like he was and that he never felt welcomed by the family. He starts to walk away, then adds that all Daniel does is watch other people do his dirty work, while he’s too afraid to take action. He says Klara may have killed herself, but she was still braver than Daniel.
Raj’s criticisms play on all of Daniel’s insecurities: first, that he isn’t doing anything meaningful with his life. Second, that he didn’t take action to help his siblings when they were in need of his help. And third, Raj’s assessment that Klara was braver than Daniel foreshadows Daniel’s obsession with trying to take action and avenge his siblings’ deaths.
Themes
