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Chapter 18
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Midnight Library, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Regret, Depression, and Suicide
Philosophy and the Meaning of Life
Possibility and Perseverance
Embracing Imperfection
Summary
Analysis
As Nora arrives back in the library, she notices that things look a bit different. She’s in the small office area, and Mrs. Elm is hunched over the computer, looking tense and worried. The lights above are flickering, and Mrs. Elm seems surprised and relieved to see Nora, apparently worried that she might not make it back this time. She explains that glitches in the library system can occur when the root Nora is closer to dying or losing her will to live. The lights stop flickering when Nora feels suddenly and momentarily afraid of dying, and the system error seems to pass. Tired of chasing happiness, Nora chooses a life where she might do some good in the world instead: she asks Mrs. Elm for the life where she became a glaciologist.
Despite her experiences in other realities so far, Nora has, in some ways, landed right back where she started. The lights in the Midnight Library flickering are always a sign that Nora’s suicidal thoughts are returning to the forefront of her mind, meaning her original self is inching closer to death. Her speech in the Olympic life let her be angry with herself again, and she’s gone back to believing that she’s deeply broken and can’t be fixed. She’s made some progress, however, as she opts for a different kind of life instead of simply giving up, implying there’s still a part of her that believes in the possibility of a good life for herself. That Nora is feeling momentarily afraid of dying is also a good sign, despite her backsliding.
Active
Themes
