Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Ambition vs. Morality
Femininity, Sexuality, and Power
Truth and Identity
Family
Summary
Analysis
Six months after Harry’s death, Evelyn’s only option is to get Connor out of town. Connor is one of the only people who knows Harry’s true cause of death, and Evelyn knows that adds to her stress. Having tried talking to Connor and putting her in therapy, Evelyn knows the only thing left to do is to go far away from the spotlight. Evelyn talks to Celia on the phone every night, usually discussing the pain Connor is going through. Celia suggests they move to Aldiz, on the southern coast of Spain, where nobody will care who they are. Evelyn knows that she’ll have to leave Luisa behind, but because Luisa has been working for her for decades, it seems like a good time to say goodbye. Celia asks Evelyn if she’ll be able to handle feeling insignificant, and Evelyn replies that she’s ready.
Evelyn knows that keeping secrets and constructing lies for the media is exhausting and stressful, and witnessing her daughter bearing that stress highlights just how damaging it can be. Ultimately, it’s not just her love for Celia, but also her care and concern for Connor that pushes her to move to Spain. She’s realizing just how tiring and damaging it’s been for her and her loved ones to be at the center of media attention, which means that though she once loved this attention, she’s willing to give it all up for her family’s wellbeing.
Themes
Once the relocation plans have been finalized, Evelyn goes into Connor’s bedroom. She tells her she’s retiring from acting and that they’re going to move to Spain. She carefully explains that she’s in love with Celia, and that she’ll marry Robert. When she says she’ll answer any of Connor’s questions, Connor tells her she doesn’t care—she’ll do whatever Evelyn tells her to do, but all she wants is to be left alone. Evelyn relents, giving Connor the space she asked for. Two days before the move, she tells Connor she’ll give her as much freedom as she wants, as long as Connor agrees to have dinner with her every night and to see a psychologist. Connor agrees, and when Evelyn hugs her, she hugs her back.
Connor’s lackluster response not only emphasizes how emotionally withdrawn from Evelyn she’s become, but it also suggests that the idea of same-sex relationships no longer elicits shock or disgust, at least from young people; times have changed since the 1960s. Even though Connor is barely communicative, it’s clear that the idea of escaping the spotlight feels freeing to her, too, given the increasing affection she shows Evelyn after she learns of the plan to move to Spain.
Themes
