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
Monique returns to Evelyn’s apartment in the morning without realizing that she decided to come back—but knowing that she couldn’t give up her career. Grace opens the door looking frazzled: the photo shoot team showed up earlier than expected, and she’s been rushing to get the apartment ready for the shoot. Frankie scolds Monique for being late—which she hardly is—and Monique knows the situation intimidates Frankie.
Monique’s feeling of being on autopilot suggests she’s still in shock from Evelyn’s revelation. The feeling of chaos and anticipation in the apartment gives this chapter an air of finality, as if this is Evelyn’s final dramatic performance. Now, Frankie is the one who feels out of place, while Monique, who was once intimidated by Frankie, has grown accustomed to this environment—it’s a moment that shows Monique’s professional growth.
Themes
Evelyn is sitting on the terrace amidst an array of lights, wires, and cameras. There’s a wind machine blowing her graying blond hair, and the sun is shining behind her: she looks completely relaxed. Monique wonders if this, not the woman she interviewed, is the true Evelyn. Though Evelyn’s looks certainly helped her find fame, Monique realizes that she has a star quality that would’ve seen her succeed anyway. Evelyn asks for some photos of herself and Monique. Monique is reluctant, but Evelyn insists. While she’s standing next to her, Evelyn smiles sincerely, and Monique understands that Evelyn really cares how she’s doing and whether she’ll be okay.
The combination of the artificial wind machine and the natural sunshine subtly emphasize that Evelyn’s fame has its foundations in Evelyn’s natural beauty and talent. They also symbolize Evelyn’s ability to manipulate situations to put herself in the best light. Evelyn knows she’s both hurt and helped Monique over the past few weeks, and she doesn’t shy away from this complicated relationship: instead, she wants to memorialize it. It seems that Evelyn’s at peace, having revealed the most secret parts of her life, and this allows her to embrace the camera like she once did before the complications and stresses of a public life made media attention unbearable.
Themes
After the shoot, everyone but Monique leaves the apartment. Monique says goodbye to Grace, who’s leaving for a vacation in Costa Rica later today, fully paid by Evelyn, who enters the room at that moment to reassure Grace she’ll be fine without company. As Grace leaves, Evelyn tells her she couldn’t have been without her these past few years.
Even at the very end of her life, Evelyn is still choreographing the lives of those around her in order to serve her own purposes, but in this situation, Grace isn’t in danger—Evelyn simply wants her as far away as possible.
Themes
Monique understands what Evelyn is doing: she’s put a plan in place to die at the time of her own choosing. Monique starts to confront Evelyn about the plan, but she realizes that whether she’s interpreted the situation correctly or not, she wouldn’t have anything to say. As Monique leaves, Evelyn tells her she has a bright future ahead of her. Monique knows from Evelyn’s expression that she’s saying goodbye.
Monique knows Evelyn well enough now to understand that it’ll be impossible to get Evelyn to back down from a plan she’s made. For Evelyn, control is everything, which means that losing control over her own body would be worse than death.
Themes
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