Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Memory and Meaning
Love and Vulnerability
Freedom
Art, Creativity, and Expression
Wonder and Knowledge
Summary
Analysis
New York City. March 16, 2014. Addie thinks the evening is magical. At first, she’s expecting something to go horribly wrong. But by the main course, she’s having a great time. Only Robbie seems to be having a bad time. Josh tries to flirt with Robbie, but Robbie fixates on Henry and ignores all Josh’s advances. Then Elise, Bea’s girlfriend, leaves to use the bathroom. Addie is sure things will fall apart once Elise returns and doesn’t recognize her. Elise returns and is confused when she sees Addie, but then Addie watches as Elise seems to decide that it’s she who is confused—maybe she’s had too much to drink—and drops it. Still, Robbie seems so annoyed by Addie. When Elise compliments the dessert Henry brought and Henry credits Addie for the pastries, Robbie grumbles about needing a smoke and storms out of the apartment.
Henry has established that Robbie is a dramatic person, but his fixation on Henry still seems rather extreme. This, combined with Henry’s earlier thought (in the lobby after Robbie’s play) that Robbie’s affection for him isn’t “real,” seems odd. What’s going on with Robbie? Why is he so obsessed with Henry, and what reason would Henry have to believe that this affection isn’t “real”? Robbie’s behavior seems significant and is worth making note of moving forward.
Themes
Addie says she should go. Bea and Henry plead with her to stay, thinking Addie is just upset about Robbie. Addie leaves anyway; Luc can always tell when she’s feeling low, and she’s afraid he’ll show up at the party and ruin everything.
Addie’s urge to leave the party, fearing Luc’s arrival, shows just how intensely he controls her life, even from afar; her fear that he’ll show up and ruin everything impacts many of the decisions she makes in her daily life.
Themes
Henry follows Addie downstairs and asks why she left in such a hurry. Referring to Robbie, Henry says that friends can be “messy sometimes,” and Addie mumbles her agreement. Then she pauses, remembering the photo she saw at Henry’s apartment. She observes how Robbie is clearly still in love with Henry. Henry says he knows, but he can’t return the feeling. Addie doesn’t press him for more.
Henry’s odd remark about not being able to return Robbie’s love further develops the idea that there’s something fishy going on with Henry and his seemingly endless stream of admirers. Once more, though, Addie demonstrates her appreciation for Henry’s human vulnerability, and so she doesn’t push him to reveal anything he’s not yet comfortable revealing to her.
Themes
